A skull and bones uncovered at an Albany heritage-listed building last month have been confirmed as human.

Albany police yesterday confirmed the collection of bones was human remains, but ruled out any suggestion of foul play after recently being notified of the results of analysis.

It has been a month since builders renovating the historic Albany Masonic Hall, on the corner of Earl and Spencer streets, made the discovery on May 17.

The Albany Advertiser first reported the bones were found in a box by tradesmen who were dismantling a storeroom.

They notified police, who forensically examined the bones before taking them away from the scene and sending them to Perth. Albany police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Grant Pollard said police were waiting for a detailed report from the State coroner, compiled by a forensic anthropologist.

Sen Sgt Pollard said the report would hopefully confirm the bones’ origin, including sex, age and ethnicity.

“They have definitely been confirmed as human and historical in nature, so likely to be of no interest to the coroner,” he said.

“They are, from all accounts, very historical but with no indication or obvious signs of foul play or any criminality.

“The report says they are historical, but the age will be in the proper report, which we are hoping to receive soon.

“Why they were in the Free-mason buildings, that is still undetermined at this stage.”

Police were hoping to receive the detailed report yesterday.

The building was constructed in 1903.

It was heritage-listed in 1999 and is the former home of the Albany Freemasons.