Kingston Pioneer Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kingston Pioneer Cemetery |
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Kingston Pioneer Cemetery
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| Location | Bega Road, Kingston, City of Logan, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1896 - 1941 |
| Official name: Kingston Pioneer Cemetery | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 26 May 2000 |
| Reference no. | 601495 |
| Significant period | 1896-1941 (fabric, historical) 1896- (social) |
| Significant components | burial/grave, gate - entrance, plaque, cemetery, sign, headstone, fence/wall - perimeter |
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The Kingston Pioneer Cemetery is a special historical burial ground located in Kingston, Queensland, Australia. It was used from 1896 until 1941. This cemetery is important because it holds the graves of early settlers, including the Kingston and Mayes families. It is officially recognized on the Queensland Heritage Register as a significant historical site.
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History of Kingston Pioneer Cemetery
The Kingston Pioneer Cemetery is made up of two small pieces of land in Kingston. People were buried here between at least 1896 and 1941. We don't know the exact year it first became a cemetery. However, the first known burial was in 1896, and the last was in 1941. The graves of important early settlers, Charles and Harriett Kingston and John and Emily Mayes, are found here.
Early Exploration and Settlement
In 1827, Captain Patrick Logan explored the area south of Brisbane. He traveled through what is now Logan City. He described the land as having good timber and some swamps. After the Moreton Bay convict settlement closed in 1839, people were allowed to settle further away. In 1849, the first land leases began around the Logan River.
When Queensland became a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859, the new government wanted more people to live there. They encouraged immigrants from overseas by giving them land when they arrived.
Settling in Scrubby Creek
European settlers began arriving around Loganholme in 1863. They grew crops like cotton and sugar cane. Cotton and sugar mills were already set up. In 1868, James Trahey bought land where the Kingston railway station is now. This area was then called Scrubby Creek. Trahey was the first settler to buy land here, but he moved away soon after.
Charles Kingston and his family arrived in Australia in 1857. The suburb of Kingston is named after them. They lived in different places near Brisbane before settling near Scrubby Creek. Charles bought land there in 1872. Their property was called Oakwood. John Mayes and his family also moved to Scrubby Creek from England around the same time. Other settlers, like James Laughlin and the Armstrongs, also chose land nearby.
Local Industries and Growth
At first, the main industries were timber cutting, cotton growing, and sugar growing. But people soon realized the area was great for dairy farming and fruit growing. This was because of the Logan River and the small swamps and creeks. Both the Kingston and Mayes families grew fruit, especially grapes. The area became known for producing excellent wines before the 1900s. There was also a coal mine and a quarry for metal and gravel.
In 1877, the first post office for the area opened at Oakwood, the Kingston family's home. Eight years later, in 1885, a train service started from Loganlea to Brisbane. The train tracks went right through Charles Kingston's property.
The Kingston Family and Their Legacy
In 1888, Charles and his wife Harriett visited England. When they returned, they planned to build a grander new house. This new home was built in 1890 on a hill overlooking the railway station. Kingston House became a famous landmark in the area. It is now a heritage-listed building. The house could be seen from many places in Kingston. Its large ballroom was a popular spot for social events.
Charles Kingston died in 1904, shortly after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with Harriett. Harriett Kingston died in 1911. Both are buried at the Kingston Pioneer Cemetery. The earliest known grave in the cemetery is that of Frances Armstrong, who was buried there in 1896.
The Mayes Family Story
The graves of John and Emily Mayes are also in the Kingston Pioneer Cemetery. John, Emily, and their two young children came to Australia from England in 1871. They arrived on the ship Indus. The family moved from Brisbane to Waterford. There, they chose a property of 321 acres soon after arriving. The Mayes family had to make improvements to their land as part of their lease agreement. The Kingston family had similar requirements.
When they first arrived in what became Kingston, the Mayes family lived in a tent. In 1872, they built a small timber hut, which is now known as Mayes Cottage. The Mayes family mainly earned money by cutting timber on their property. Later, they became involved in dairy farming. In 1906, they bought shares in the new Kingston Cooperative Dairy Company.
John Mayes died on June 10, 1908, and was buried in the Kingston Pioneer Cemetery. Emily later married John's brother, Richard, and moved away. However, after her death in 1933, she was also buried in the Kingston Pioneer Cemetery.
What the Cemetery Looks Like
The Kingston Pioneer Cemetery is on two pieces of land. These are on either side of the driveway that leads into Kingston College from Bega Road. The main, larger cemetery can be seen from Bega Road. The second, smaller cemetery, is about 50 meters away, off Pioneer Road.
The Main Cemetery Area
The larger cemetery is about 18 by 30 meters in size. It has eleven graves, and five of these hold more than one person. Seven of the graves are identified, but four are unmarked. It's possible there are more unmarked graves based on the space between the visible ones. The cemetery is a grassy area. It is surrounded by a timber fence with an entrance gate on the eastern side. There is a small area of bushland next to the western side of the fence.
Many graves have large concrete headstones with decorations. Charles Kingston's grave has an obelisk (a tall, narrow monument) on a three-tiered base. The top of the obelisk is broken. Another grave, with two burials, is marked by a low concrete border. It has a concrete headstone with a marble plaque. Other graves are surrounded by metal fences, some with decorative finials (ornamental tops).
The Smaller Cemetery Area
The smaller cemetery is about 5 by 15 meters. It is located off Pioneer Lane, next to Kingston College. People believe this section was for Catholic burials. This cemetery has 7 graves. One of these graves holds four burials. Two graves are unmarked, but their small size suggests they might belong to children.
The grave with four burials has a large concrete cross with decorations. It also has a plaque listing the names of the people buried there. Another grave is marked by a simple white timber cross. All the graves, including the two small unmarked ones, have metal fences with decorative elements like finials.
Logan City Council takes care of both cemeteries. They have put up signs to explain the history. The Council has also worked to preserve some of the headstones.
Why Kingston Pioneer Cemetery is Important
The Kingston Pioneer Cemetery is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets certain important standards.
Showing Queensland's History
The cemetery is important because it shows how Queensland's history developed. It holds the graves of Charles and Harriett Kingston and John and Emily Mayes. These families were among the first non-Indigenous settlers in the area, which was then called Scrubby Creek. The cemetery is significant not only as the final resting place of these pioneers. It is also important because of its connection to their descendants, many of whom still live in the Kingston and Logan areas today.
Connecting with the Community
This place has a strong and special connection with the local community. It is important for social, cultural, and spiritual reasons. It is significant because of its link to the Kingston, Mayes, and Armstrong families. These families helped settle and grow the Logan area from the 1870s to the mid-1940s.
Association with Important People
The cemetery has a strong connection with the people of Logan City, especially those from the suburb of Kingston. It represents the lives and work of the early settlers who were very important to the history of this part of Queensland.
