Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground |
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Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground, 2010
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| Location | Gordon Street, Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1824–1886 |
| Owner | Port Macquarie-Hastings Council |
| Official name: Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground 1824 - 1886; Second Burial Ground; Historic Cemetery | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 1 July 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1731 |
| Type | Cemetery/Graveyard/Burial Ground |
| Category | Cemeteries and Burial Sites |
| Builders | Various stonemasons |
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The Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground is a very old cemetery in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. It was used from 1824 to 1886. Today, it's a special historical site and a public park. The local council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, looks after it. This place is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
The Story of the Cemetery
As Port Macquarie grew, more people lived there. This meant more deaths, so a new cemetery was needed. The first cemetery, on Allman Hill, was getting full.
A new spot was chosen south of the town. It was near where Wrights and Kooloonbung Creeks meet today. This area was once bushy but was cleared for the cemetery.
The very first burial happened on 15 November 1824. It was for a baby named Elizabeth Murphy.
The Second Burying Ground was officially set aside for graves on 2 July 1863. Between 1824 and 1886, about 1,400 people were buried here. Many of them were convicts from the early settlement.
The cemetery was formally dedicated for preserving graves on 21 December 1910. Over many years, the cemetery became run down.
In the 1960s, people started working to restore it. They wanted to remember those who helped build Port Macquarie. Sadly, by then, many graves were hard to find. Most of the headstones were also damaged.
Today, only 92 monuments or parts of them remain.
A special plaque was put up in April 1963 to remember everyone buried there. In the 1980s, the site became a Nature Park. Trees and shrubs were planted, and a brick path was built. Signs were also put up to help visitors.
Around the 1990s, a shelter and toilets were added. Some important monuments were also fixed up.
What Does it Look Like Today?
The Second Burying Ground is on a small hill. It's at the southern edge of Port Macquarie's main shopping area. Gordon Street forms its northern border. The other sides are next to Kooloonbung Nature Park. This park has wetlands, trees, and open spaces.
In 2010, the cemetery was in good condition. It is looked after as a historical site and a public park. You can see old monuments scattered around the area.
A brick path goes around the cemetery. It also connects to the town centre and the nature park. Many monuments have been set into concrete. This might protect them from damage. However, it can cause problems for sandstone monuments. It also changes how the site looks.
The original paths are no longer visible. Most of the 1,400 burials are not marked. The burial area was likely much larger than where the monuments are now. This site could still hold many historical secrets underground.
Even though some parts are gone, the cemetery still has many early monuments. These include some from the convict era in Port Macquarie.
Why is This Place Important?
The Second Burying Ground is very important to the history of New South Wales. It has historical, social, and cultural value. It also has archaeological importance for the Hastings region.
This cemetery helps us understand the history of New South Wales. It was the burial place for at least 1,400 people. Their lives helped build and shape a key area of New South Wales. The way it was designed and its monuments show how people thought about death. It also shows religious beliefs over more than 170 years.
The Second Burying Ground is important because of its links to many people. These individuals and families were key in developing Port Macquarie and New South Wales.
It also shows interesting styles of monuments from the past.
This place has strong ties to the community of Port Macquarie. This area was settled very early in the colony's history. The local community still values this site greatly. It is visited regularly and is listed on several heritage registers.
The Second Burying Ground can teach us a lot about NSW's cultural history. It's a great place to study landscape design and old monuments. It also helps us learn about social history and family trees. This is valuable for people now and in the future.
This cemetery started in 1824. This was before official records of births, deaths, and marriages began in NSW. Because of its early date and surviving monuments, it offers rare insights into NSW's cultural history. Every cemetery is unique. This one holds the remains of people found nowhere else.
The Second Burying Ground is a good example of early convict burial grounds. It shows different styles of funeral monuments. It also shows how small cemeteries were managed over a long time.
Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 July 2005.
