Purga Aboriginal Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purga Aboriginal Cemetery |
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Purga Aboriginal Cemetery
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| Location | Carmichaels Road, Purga, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Official name: Purga Aboriginal Cemetery | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 18 September 2008 |
| Reference no. | 602434 |
| Significant period | c. 1914-1948 |
| Significant components | burial/grave, cemetery, well, headstone |
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The Purga Aboriginal Cemetery is a special burial ground located on Carmichaels Road in Purga, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history. This means it's a protected place that tells us about the past. The cemetery has been used for a long time, with the oldest marked grave from 1918. It is closely linked to the Purga Creek Aboriginal Mission, which was a home and training place for Aboriginal people many years ago.
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A Look Back: The Story of Purga Cemetery
The Purga Creek Aboriginal Mission was a place set aside for Aboriginal people from 1892 until 1948. It was located about 8 kilometres south of Ipswich. The buildings of the mission are no longer there. However, the cemetery, which was officially recognized in 1968, was used much earlier. It has a strong connection to the mission, with graves dating back to 1918.
The Purga Creek Aboriginal Mission started in 1914. It was meant to be a self-supporting farm. It also aimed to train people for jobs. The mission closed in 1948 because its buildings were old and other places had better facilities. This closure also ended the Salvation Army's 27-year involvement with the mission.
Moving from Deebing Creek Mission
Before Purga, an earlier mission began at Deebing Creek in 1892. A group of business people in Ipswich started a society to help Aboriginal people. They were worried about Aboriginal people getting alcohol. Deebing Creek was a home and workplace for missionaries and Aboriginal people.
By 1914, the mission moved from Deebing Creek to Purga Creek. The land at Deebing Creek was not very good for farming. People also wanted to move the mission further from Ipswich. This was to help prevent Aboriginal people from getting alcohol.
In 1914, the group running the Deebing Creek Mission bought a farm at Purga. This new site was about 4 kilometres south of Deebing Creek. It was a good spot because it was near the railway. It also had more space for buildings and farming.
The Queensland Government helped pay for the move. Old buildings, including the school, were moved and rebuilt at Purga. Instead of old slab huts, new timber cottages were built. Aboriginal people living at the mission helped build these homes. The cottages were arranged around a large paddock. The mission population grew to 85 people that year.
Life at Purga Creek Mission
Aboriginal children and adults came to Purga Creek Mission from all over Queensland. Some came from far north or west. These people were often moved from their traditional lands. They are known as "historical people." Even though these reserves were on other groups' traditional lands, places like Purga Creek Mission became home.
By 1915, the mission had 20 acres of land for farming. They grew enough food for the mission and sold some locally. They also had prize-winning pigs, dairy cows, and beef cattle.
In 1920, the Salvation Army took over the mission. They made many improvements. They built a large school hall and a dining hall for orphans. They also fixed the girls' dormitory. The Salvation Army called it a "colony" instead of a "mission." When they took over, there was space for 40 boys and girls. There was also room for 100 "Colonists."
Reports about Purga mainly talked about the number of orphan children. They also updated on the farm work. In 1933, a well was dug in the "village," which is how they started calling the mission. Aboriginal residents were encouraged to grow their own gardens. Married couples and families lived in their own huts. They cooked for themselves with weekly food supplies. Orphaned children and single adults lived in dormitories. Aboriginal men worked on the farm or found jobs outside.
The Mission Closes
By the mid-1940s, fewer people lived at the mission. The buildings were also getting old. In 1947, the Salvation Army asked for urgent repairs. Some improvements were made, but only ten children were left at the mission.
In 1948, the Purga Mission was officially closed. The school also closed on June 30, 1948. Only seven residents remained. The children were sent to other Aboriginal settlements. The land was taken over by the government. The church building was left for the Salvation Army. The official notice to close the reserve was published in December 1948.
In March 1968, a special area was officially set aside for an Aboriginal Cemetery. This area was taken from the original mission land. The earliest marked grave is from 1918. This shows the cemetery was used from the very beginning of the Purga Creek Mission.
Famous People Connected to Purga
In 2002, an article in The Courier-Mail newspaper reported the death of Aunty Janey Arnold. She was an important Aboriginal elder from Brisbane. Aunty Janey was born around 1908 in an Aboriginal camp. When she was one, her family moved to Deebing Creek Mission. Later, they moved to Purga Creek Mission. Aunty Janey was buried in the Purga Aboriginal Cemetery.
Harold Blair, a famous singer, was also a resident of Purga Creek Mission. He was brought to Purga when he was 3 months old. He stayed until he finished school at 17. When he passed away in 1976, a memorial service was held at the Purga Aboriginal Cemetery. His ashes were scattered there.
What Does Purga Cemetery Look Like?
The Purga Aboriginal Cemetery is about 15 kilometres south of Ipswich City. You can find it off the Ipswich-Boonah Road, by turning onto Carmichaels Road. You follow Carmichaels Road for about one kilometre. Then, you turn right and go about 100 metres to reach the cemetery driveway.
The whole cemetery area is one hectare (about 2.5 acres). A smaller part of the cemetery is fenced off with a chain wire fence and gate. This fenced area has several old marble headstones. One of them dates back to 1918. Other graves inside this fenced part have simple wooden crosses or low concrete headstones. Aunty Janey Arnold's grave is in this fenced section.
Many other graves are in the larger area outside the small fenced part. These graves are marked in different ways. Some have simple wooden crosses with small brass plaques and concrete borders. Others have more detailed granite headstones. There is a wooden sign in the south-west corner that says "DOREEN THOMPSON MEMORIAL CEMETERY."
Why is Purga Cemetery Important?
The Purga Aboriginal Cemetery was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 18, 2008. This means it is recognized as a very important historical site.
Showing Queensland's History
The cemetery helps us understand Queensland's history. It is linked to the Purga Aboriginal Mission, which started in 1914. Even though the mission closed in 1948, the cemetery is still open. It has had recent burials. The cemetery reminds us of a time when Aboriginal people were often kept separate from the main community in Queensland.
Special Meaning for a Community
Purga Aboriginal Cemetery is important for social, cultural, and spiritual reasons. It has a strong connection with the Aboriginal community linked to the Purga Creek Mission. The cemetery is the resting place for Aboriginal people who lived at the Purga Creek Mission. It is also where their families and descendants are buried. This includes "historical" people who were moved to Purga Creek from other parts of Queensland.
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Purga Aboriginal Cemetery
