Gore Hill Cemetery facts for kids
General view of the cemetery
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 19 May 1868 |
| Closed | 1974 |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Owned by | Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW |
| Size | 5.07 hectares (12.5 acres) |
The Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery is a special, historic cemetery in Gore Hill, Sydney. It was started on May 19, 1868, by a local politician named William Tunks. This makes it one of the oldest and most important cemeteries in Sydney.
The first burial happened in 1877. By the time it closed for new burials in 1974, over 14,000 people had been laid to rest here. Most burials took place between 1900 and 1930. The cemetery is also known as the Gore Hill Cemetery. It's looked after by a group called Northern Cemeteries. The cemetery was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2001, meaning it's a protected historical site.
You'll also find 17 war graves here. These belong to soldiers from World War I and are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Contents
Discovering Gore Hill's Past
How the Cemetery Began
In 1864, William Tunks, a businessman from Parramatta, became a local politician. He owned land in the North Shore area. Tunks was very interested in creating a public cemetery for the community.
In 1867, a surveyor was asked to find a good spot. They chose a 14-acre area at Gore Hill. This plan included separate sections for different religious groups. It also had areas for future growth and a main road. Even with some local objections, the plan was approved. Tunks wanted to protect the trees on the site. He believed they should be kept for "shade and ornamentation."
The first part of the cemetery was officially opened on May 19, 1868. In 1870, local councils became the first trustees. Tunks was chosen as the chairman. They built a fence to protect the site. By 1875, the cemetery was divided into seven separate sections. Each section was managed by its own group of trustees. Burials started in 1877.
William Tunks passed away in 1883 and was buried at the entrance to the Church of England section. He was the first person buried there. In 1884, a combined committee of all the trustees was formed. They planned to improve the cemetery. This included building a caretaker's house and planting trees.
The caretaker's cottage was built in 1886. James Kennedy became the caretaker. His jobs included digging graves and planting trees. By the end of 1886, 56 burials had taken place. In 1890, a new picket fence was put up along the main road, now called the Pacific Highway. By 1899, about 2,096 burials had happened. Between 1898 and 1901, the main road inside the cemetery was improved. Some old monuments and remains from the Devonshire Street Cemetery were moved here. This happened when Central railway station was being built.
From 1902 to Its Closure
In 1902, beautiful iron gates with stone pillars were added at the main entrance. These gates were made by local craftsmen. The cemetery's layout changed a bit around this time. Some sections were moved or expanded. Brick walls were built along the main road inside the cemetery. A timber chapel was also built, but it was sadly destroyed by fire in 1975.
In 1904, the government stopped giving money for general maintenance. The trustees then created rules for managing the cemetery. In 1910, Frederick Crowe took over as Sexton (caretaker). More changes to the burial areas happened in 1917 and 1919. By 1922, all burial plots had been sold. A stone archway was added to the Baptist section.
In 1926, part of the cemetery's land was taken for road widening. A new metal fence was likely put up along the road. The main road inside the cemetery was resurfaced around 1930. Not much is known about the cemetery during the Great Depression and World War II.
In 1948, two large monuments were moved here from another cemetery. A new caretaker's cottage was built in 1949. By the 1950s, fewer burials were happening. In 1974, the cemetery stopped operating for new burials. To mark this change, it was renamed the Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery.
Saving the Cemetery's Heritage
In 1975, people worried about the cemetery's future. There were fears it might be demolished. A public meeting was held, and a group called "The Friends of Gore Hill Cemetery" was formed. Their goal was to protect and conserve the cemetery.
In 1976, the cemetery was recognized as an historic site by the National Trust. The Heritage Council of New South Wales also recognized its importance in 1978. In 1979, money was given for conservation work. A special committee was set up to plan how to restore the cemetery.
Restoration work began in the early 1980s. This included repairing fences and gates. They also improved the main road inside the cemetery. Dead trees were removed, and new shrubs were planted. Marker pegs were installed to show the different religious sections.
In 1984, the old caretaker's cottage site was leased out. The money from this lease helps pay for the cemetery's upkeep. The "Friends" group published a history of the cemetery in 1985. In 1986, a new law, the Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery Act, was passed. This law helped ensure the cemetery's long-term care.
In 1987, new trustees were appointed to manage the cemetery. They included people from the Heritage Council and the "Friends" group. The cemetery was even featured on a TV show in 1989.
Recent Years and Ongoing Care
In the 1990s, more money was received for major landscape work. This included removing rubbish and repairing paths. A Memorial Garden was created for placing ashes. Old palms were removed, and tree surgery was done on large trees.
In 1992, Chris Betteridge became the Chairman of the Trust. More money was received to conserve important vaults. The Trust also started promoting the placement of ashes and grave care. In 1993, a new monument was unveiled for David Gregory. He was Australia's first Test Cricket captain.
In 1995, a monument was put up for Mother Mary MacKillop. She is a very important figure in Australian history. The Trust also created a "Visitor Code" for the cemetery. A large tree fell in a storm in 1996, damaging several monuments.
New trustees were appointed in 1997. They continued to get funding for conservation work. In 2000, an exhibition was held to show the progress made. New signs were also put up. The "Friends" group continued their great work. They published biographies and held open days and guided walks.
Today, the Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery is managed by the Northern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust. A new monument for the Sisters of Mercy has been built. It lists the names of 115 sisters buried there.
What You'll See There
Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery is divided into two main parts. A central road, called The Carriageway, runs through it. Hedges and dense trees create smaller, enclosed spaces. These trees also line the cemetery boundaries. Rows of tall palms are a special feature in the western part.
The paths are laid out in a grid pattern. This creates interesting focal points. For example, there's an octagonal plot in the Old Catholic section. There's also a circular plot in the Church of England section. The older parts of the cemetery have many grand monuments and vaults. These show off different materials and designs. The Baptist section, however, has simpler, more uniform monuments.
A modern building, an architectural studio, is on the site of the old caretaker's cottage. It's designed to blend in with the cemetery.
Buildings and Structures
The cemetery has several interesting buildings:
- The Lich Gate: This is at the entrance to the Old Roman Catholic section. It's a place where funeral groups would stop and rest the coffin. It has a brick base and a gabled roof. It was restored in 1983 and is still used by visitors.
- The Shelter Shed: Located in the Methodist section, this timber building was built around 1900. It provided shelter for visitors. It has benches inside and a tiled floor. It's in good condition after recent repairs.
- The Catholic Robing Room: Built around 1900, this room was for priests to change before funerals. It's made of masonry with a shingled roof. It has a beautiful tiled floor and is in good condition. The "Friends" group uses it for meetings.
- The Methodist Workers Shed: This simple brick building is used for storage. It has a tiled roof and is in good condition.
- The Site Office/Storage Shed: This building is made of timber and brick. It's painted green to blend in. Part of it is in poor condition due to termites.
- The Toilets: These are simple brick structures. One has been restored, while the other is in ruins.
- The Incinerator: This brick structure was used for burning things. It needs repairs because it has been damaged.
Monuments and Art
The cemetery is full of different types of monuments. Most burials happened between 1900 and 1930, so many memorials are modest. But there are also older, more elaborate monuments. These show amazing craftsmanship and religious symbols. You'll find plots for religious groups, like Jesuit Priests and the Sisters of St Joseph. There are also many family vaults.
The monuments are made from materials like marble, sandstone, granite, and brick. Some have iron surrounds. The older sections have dramatic sculptures. Common types of monuments include:
- Calvary and Celtic crosses
- Pedestals and Obelisks
- Columns and Urns
- Angels and other sculptures
After World War I, monuments became simpler.
Paths and Boundaries
The main road, The Carriageway, divides the cemetery. It runs from north to south. It was originally gravel, then blue metal, and later bitumen. In the 1980s, the bitumen was removed. Now, the Carriageway is mostly covered in grass, with brick paving along one side. It has brick-lined drains and low brick walls.
Brick-paved paths crisscross the cemetery. They lead to the burial plots. These bricks were likely made in nearby brickworks. The paths are kept clear for visitors. There are also benches for people to rest.
The northern boundary has a steel fence. The western boundary, along the Pacific Highway, has a decorative steel fence. This fence has been damaged at times but is generally well-maintained. The main entrance at the southern end has large wrought iron gates. These gates were put up in 1902 and are kept locked for safety. The eastern and part of the southern boundaries are unfenced.
Other structures include a steel archway and a stone arch into different sections.
Plants and Nature
The cemetery's plants include original ornamental species. Many of these evergreen trees and shrubs have symbolic meanings. They represent ideas like everlasting life and remembrance. There are also self-sown plants and some native vegetation. In recent years, efforts have been made to remove invasive weeds. This helps keep the cemetery looking its best.
Condition and Changes
The cemetery is well-maintained. Paths are kept clear, and invasive weeds are controlled. Buildings are also looked after. Some graves are maintained under special agreements.
The cemetery is mostly intact. However, the Church of England Robing Room/Chapel burned down in 1975. The caretaker's cottages were also demolished. Some damage has occurred due to vandalism and natural decay.
Over the years, many changes have been made:
- Caretaker's Residence built (1886)
- New fences erected (1890, 1926)
- Carriageway improved and resurfaced (1898-1901, 1930)
- Monuments moved from other cemeteries (1900-01, 1948)
- Main gates erected (1902)
- Sections redesigned and brick walls built (1903)
- Cemetery closed to burials (1974)
- Major restoration works (1982-84, 1990s)
- Architectural studio built (1984)
- Memorial garden established (1991)
- New monuments erected (1993, 1995, 2000)
Famous People Buried Here
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Many notable people are buried at Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery. Their lives helped shape the history of Sydney and Australia. Here are a few:
- William Tunks (1816–1883): The founder of Gore Hill Cemetery and a local politician.
- Saint Mary MacKillop (1842–1909): Australia's first saint. Her remains were moved in 1914, but a monument marks her original burial spot.
- Dave Gregory (1845–1919): The first captain of the Australian cricket team in 1877.
- Sir John Sulman (1849–1934): A famous architect. The Sulman Prize for Architecture is named after him.
- Benard Kieran (1886–1905): A world champion swimmer. About 30,000 people attended his funeral.
- William Wardell (1823–1899): A civil engineer and architect. He designed famous buildings like St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne and St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney.
- Hordern family: Several members of this important Sydney family are buried here.
- Maurice O'Shea (1897–1956): A well-known winemaker.
- Dugald Thomson (1848–1922): A politician who served in the first Australian Parliament.
Why Gore Hill is Special
Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery is very important for New South Wales history. It shows how people's views on death and remembrance changed over more than 100 years. Its design, monuments, and plants make it a beautiful example of a Victorian/Edwardian public cemetery. It's also a landmark with important plantings and high-quality funerary art.
The community values this cemetery highly. Its rescue from being turned into a park and its dedication as a Memorial Cemetery made it a model for saving other historic cemeteries.
The cemetery offers a lot for learning and research. It has a wealth of information about family histories, architecture, gardening, and art. This information is easily available to people in Sydney. As the burial place for over 14,000 people, it has strong connections to the history of Sydney's North Shore.
Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery is unique. While other cemeteries might have similar layouts, Gore Hill has a special landscape. It clearly shows the features of a late 19th and early 20th-century public cemetery. This includes its religious sections, symbolic plants, and monuments.
