Dear List I thought I would just include this article I have written for a local publication on the early cemeteries of Mackay.....One of my tasks I have set myself for this year is to collate as many details on these lone burials and small cemeteries in our district for our archives and hopefully lobby the local council for some recognition and restoration of same. Cheers from Glen Hall Assistant Research Officer Mackay Historical Society and Museum Inc. Po Box 1349, MACKAY QLD 4740. email: bushpig3@bigpond.com our website: http://www.geocities.com/ghh_mackay/research/research.html ------------------------------------------oOo----------------------------------------------------------- Today in the 21st Century, when we die we have the option of burial or cremation. In the 19th Century options were not many, when you died you were buried. If you were lucky and close to a township that meant in a cemetery. If you were a traveller or drifter and died on the side of the road that is most likely where you were buried. In the Mackay region many people know of the larger cemeteries like the Old Mackay Cemetery, Mount Bassett and Walkerston. The minor ones are Sarina, Mirani, Marian and Nebo. What about the many others that existed that have been forgotten for many years or those where no or little trace remains........... Thomas Henry Fitzgerald completed the first survey of Mackay in 1863. In Fitzgerald's town plan of which consisted basically of the area regarded as the present Mackay CBD, he planned a cemetery reserve at the eastern end of Victoria Street, at that time on the edge of the mangroves. The site would have been in roughly the present block bordered by Chain, Victoria, Endeavour and Industrial Streets. This site would have proved unsuitable due to the flooding of the Pioneer River prevalent in the early years of settlement as well as boggy ground with the location close to mangroves. It however appears a cemetery reserve was established further to the south in a block bordered by Byron, Park and Goldsmith Streets. It is unknown how many burials took place at this site but it was noted when this area was subdivided in the 1880's workmen forming the streets and blocks found traces of burials. It was still noted as a cemetery reserve on a 1907 map of the Mackay Township. The Old Mackay Cemetery on Cemetery Road proved a more suitable site and became the major cemetery in the district within a short time and many of Mackay's early pioneers and residents found their final resting places here. The North Side over the Pioneer River remained a predominantly farming area until the early 1920's. A major settlement was located at Hill End now known as Glenella and a cemetery was located in the area now occupied by the Glenella Industrial Estate. The area for many years was deemed unsuitable due to the clay soils emanating objectionable odours!. This cemetery was finally closed and in 1953 the bodies exhumed and reputedly reburied in the Old Mackay Cemetery. There were other small cemeteries on the North Side. Notably the St Peter's Churchyard Cemetery at Mandurana. St. Peter's Church was destroyed by fire in 1968 however the graveyard remains. Approximately 50+ burials took place there with a large number of South Sea Islanders being interred. Unfortunately only a couple of headstones remain to show the existence of this hallowed ground. Recent publicity has surrounded the Hampden and Jolimont cemeteries that have been neglected for many years and moves underway for their restoration by local schools. It is sad to relate that many burials in the district will be lost forever. It was common in the 19th century for many of the district mills and plantations to have their own burial grounds. The accident rates for many of the mill employees mainly South Sea Islanders was very high and there was not strict adherement to workplace health and safety. It was also common for many of the field workers to bury their deceased on the farm paddocks. There would be literally hundreds of lone burials like this around the Mackay district. A recent publication listed over 70 lone burials on properties in the Homebush district alone. The Manager of the Palms Mill near Walkerston in the early 1900's was a Mr John Inverarity. The Palms mill management in 1885 engaged the services of Javanese farm labourers to work the plantation. For many years they buried their dead on the Estate with no organised burial ground. Mr Inverarity arranged for part of the Estate to be set aside for a cemetery. Located on the northern banks of Baker's Creek this cemetery contains the final resting place of at least 54 of the original Javanese settlers and their descendants. The last burial took place in 1973. This cemetery remained overgrown for many years but has been lovingly restored by two local men, Barry Hassan and Chris Johnston. Many of the descendants of the original Javanese still remain in the Walkerston and Bakers Creek areas. It is important that we try and preserve the final resting places of our forebears and it is recognition of the importance these place hold in our history that will hopefully retain our pride in our local history. If you have any information on lone burials within the Mackay district or any burials in the small cemeteries and their location please contact me at C/- Post Office, Pleystowe, or phone 49 592 572. The information will be retained in the Mackay Historical Society Archives so it is not lost forever.

This is wonderful Glen, keep up the good work! Cheers, Robynne ----- Original Message ----- From: GLEN HALL To: AUSTRALIA-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 11:44 AM Subject: [[AUS-CEM]] Early Mackay Cemeteries Dear List I thought I would just include this article I have written for a local publication on the early cemeteries of Mackay.....One of my tasks I have set myself for this year is to collate as many details on these lone burials and small cemeteries in our district for our archives and hopefully lobby the local council for some recognition and restoration of same. Cheers from Glen Hall Assistant Research Officer Mackay Historical Society and Museum Inc. Po Box 1349, MACKAY QLD 4740. email: bushpig3@bigpond.com our website: http://www.geocities.com/ghh_mackay/research/research.html ------------------------------------------oOo----------------------------------------------------------- Today in the 21st Century, when we die we have the option of burial or cremation. In the 19th Century options were not many, when you died you were buried. If you were lucky and close to a township that meant in a cemetery. If you were a traveller or drifter and died on the side of the road that is most likely where you were buried. In the Mackay region many people know of the larger cemeteries like the Old Mackay Cemetery, Mount Bassett and Walkerston. The minor ones are Sarina, Mirani, Marian and Nebo. What about the many others that existed that have been forgotten for many years or those where no or little trace remains........... Thomas Henry Fitzgerald completed the first survey of Mackay in 1863. In Fitzgerald's town plan of which consisted basically of the area regarded as the present Mackay CBD, he planned a cemetery reserve at the eastern end of Victoria Street, at that time on the edge of the mangroves. The site would have been in roughly the present block bordered by Chain, Victoria, Endeavour and Industrial Streets. This site would have proved unsuitable due to the flooding of the Pioneer River prevalent in the early years of settlement as well as boggy ground with the location close to mangroves. It however appears a cemetery reserve was established further to the south in a block bordered by Byron, Park and Goldsmith Streets. It is unknown how many burials took place at this site but it was noted when this area was subdivided in the 1880's workmen forming the streets and blocks found traces of burials. It was still noted as a cemetery reserve on a 1907 map of the Mackay Township. The Old Mackay Cemetery on Cemetery Road proved a more suitable site and became the major cemetery in the district within a short time and many of Mackay's early pioneers and residents found their final resting places here. The North Side over the Pioneer River remained a predominantly farming area until the early 1920's. A major settlement was located at Hill End now known as Glenella and a cemetery was located in the area now occupied by the Glenella Industrial Estate. The area for many years was deemed unsuitable due to the clay soils emanating objectionable odours!. This cemetery was finally closed and in 1953 the bodies exhumed and reputedly reburied in the Old Mackay Cemetery. There were other small cemeteries on the North Side. Notably the St Peter's Churchyard Cemetery at Mandurana. St. Peter's Church was destroyed by fire in 1968 however the graveyard remains. Approximately 50+ burials took place there with a large number of South Sea Islanders being interred. Unfortunately only a couple of headstones remain to show the existence of this hallowed ground. Recent publicity has surrounded the Hampden and Jolimont cemeteries that have been neglected for many years and moves underway for their restoration by local schools. It is sad to relate that many burials in the district will be lost forever. It was common in the 19th century for many of the district mills and plantations to have their own burial grounds. The accident rates for many of the mill employees mainly South Sea Islanders was very high and there was not strict adherement to workplace health and safety. It was also common for many of the field workers to bury their deceased on the farm paddocks. There would be literally hundreds of lone burials like this around the Mackay district. A recent publication listed over 70 lone burials on properties in the Homebush district alone. The Manager of the Palms Mill near Walkerston in the early 1900's was a Mr John Inverarity. The Palms mill management in 1885 engaged the services of Javanese farm labourers to work the plantation. For many years they buried their dead on the Estate with no organised burial ground. Mr Inverarity arranged for part of the Estate to be set aside for a cemetery. Located on the northern banks of Baker's Creek this cemetery contains the final resting place of at least 54 of the original Javanese settlers and their descendants. The last burial took place in 1973. This cemetery remained overgrown for many years but has been lovingly restored by two local men, Barry Hassan and Chris Johnston. Many of the descendants of the original Javanese still remain in the Walkerston and Bakers Creek areas. It is important that we try and preserve the final resting places of our forebears and it is recognition of the importance these place hold in our history that will hopefully retain our pride in our local history. If you have any information on lone burials within the Mackay district or any burials in the small cemeteries and their location please contact me at C/- Post Office, Pleystowe, or phone 49 592 572. The information will be retained in the Mackay Historical Society Archives so it is not lost forever. ==== AUSTRALIA-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== ================================================================== "Please "do not" post virus warnings to the list. ================================================================== ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237