St Thomas Rest Park facts for kids
Headstones and monuments in St Thomas' Rest Park
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1845 (as a cemetery) |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Type | Historic cemetery and urban park |
| Created | 1974 (as a park) |
| Operated by | North Sydney Council (since 1967) |
| Open | Open all hours |
St Thomas Rest Park is a special place in Crows Nest, New South Wales. It's located on West Street. This park was once the very first cemetery (a burial ground) on Sydney's North Shore. Today, it's the biggest park in the busy Crows Nest area.
From Cemetery to Park
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The land where St Thomas Rest Park now stands was given to Edward Wollstonecraft in 1821. Later, in 1845, a wealthy landowner named Alexander Berry donated part of this land. He gave it to the local Anglican church to be used as a cemetery. Alexander Berry's wife, Elizabeth, had inherited the land from her brother, Edward Wollstonecraft.
Edward Wollstonecraft had passed away in 1832. He was first buried in a different cemetery. However, his remains were later moved to a special tomb built by Alexander Berry in St Thomas' Cemetery. Alexander Berry himself was also buried in this tomb later on. You can still see this historic tomb in the park today.
In 1967, the cemetery was officially given to the North Sydney Council. This happened through a special law. The law allowed the area to be changed from a cemetery into a "Rest Park" for the community. The new park officially opened in 1974.
The old sexton's cottage, which is a small house from around 1850, was also restored. It opened as a museum in 1985. Many old monuments and headstones are still in the park. Some are in special stone-edged areas, while others are scattered around. There's even a history trail you can follow to learn more about the park's past.
The park also contains one Commonwealth war grave. This is for Captain Richard Gordon Dibbs, an Australian Army officer who served in World War II. He was the grandson of George Dibbs, a famous leader mentioned below.
Famous People Buried Here
Many important people from Sydney's history are buried at St Thomas Rest Park. Here are a few of them:
- Alexander Berry and his wife Elizabeth: They were important landowners who helped establish the cemetery.
- Reverend W.B. Clarke: He was a church leader and is known as the "Father of Australian Geology" because of his important work studying rocks and the Earth.
- George Dibbs: He was a leader of the New South Wales government in the late 1800s, before Australia became a united country.
- James Milson: He was a pioneer and landowner. A place called Milsons Point is named after him.
- Conrad Martens: A well-known artist.
- John Whitton: He was a railway pioneer, meaning he helped build early train lines.
- Edward Wollstonecraft: An early pioneer in the area.
