North Rockhampton Cemetery
North Rockhampton Cemetery
Details
Established1879
Location
cnr Yaamba Road and Moores Creek Road, Norman Gardens, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
CountryAustralia
Coordinates23°20′57″S 150°31′26″E / 23.3491°S 150.5239°E / -23.3491; 150.5239
Typemonumental
Styledenominational divisions
Owned byRockhampton Regional Council
SizeApproximately 11 hectares
No. of graves25,100+
WebsiteNorth Rockhampton Cemetery
Find a GraveNorth Rockhampton Cemetery

The North Rockhampton Cemetery is a cemetery in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, which was established in 1879.[1]

It is situated approximately 11 hectares of land beside the Bruce Highway at the junction of Yaamba Road and Moores Creek Road in Norman Gardens.

It currently contains over 25,100 graves.[2]

History

North Rockhampton Cemetery, 2022

North Rockhampton Cemetery was established in 1879.[1] According to council records, the first burial at the cemetery was that of a young girl called Elizabeth Rogers who was buried on 1 March 1879.[2]

The cemetery was officially consecrated on 15 September 1879 by Bishop Mathew Hale.[1] This occurred eleven days after the cemetery's second burial when a woman named Annie Cusack was buried on 4 September 1879.[2]

In 1932, the cemetery was beautified with the trustees planting suitable shrubs and trees throughout the grounds.[3] Garden seats and new toilet facilities were also installed.[3] A waiting room and fully furnished office were also added which were officially opened by Owen Daniel.[3]

In 1946, a 12-year-old boy received minor injuries when a tombstone fell on him at the cemetery.[4] Four men were required to lift the heavy monument so the boy could be freed.[4] In 1949, a 16-year-old boy was injured in a similar incident when a tombstone fell on him causing a probable fracture of the right leg, severe lacerations and bruising.[5]

In 2005, a risk assessment identified the potential for gravesides to collapse due to the cemetery's close proximity to Moores Creek.[6] The risk of mourners falling into open graves during funerals prompted Rockhampton City Council to commence using a hydraulic ram shoring system to reinforce the ends of graves, significantly reducing the risk of graveside accidents during funeral services.[6]

In 2010, there were complaints from local residents about the unkempt condition of the North Rockhampton Cemetery.[7] One woman stated in the local media that she would refuse to bury her father in the cemetery due to what she described as its "disgusting" condition, specifically the amount of long grass and weeds which were growing throughout the grounds.[7] A spokesperson from Rockhampton Regional Council claimed the mowing hadn't recommenced at the cemetery due to the ground being too wet following recent heavy rain which meant there was an increased risk of damage to the graves.[7]

During the 2016 clown sightings, police responded to an incident at the cemetery after a man dressed as a clown allegedly vandalised a baby's grave.[8] Police apprehended a 36-year-old West Rockhampton man who was dressed as a clown and charged him with being a public nuisance.[8]

Rockhampton War Cemetery, situated in the grounds of the North Rockhampton Cemetery, 2022

Despite not officially being closed, from the 1990s until 2015 the cemetery was only open to interments in reserved or family plots. However, with local cemeteries nearing capacity due to a growing population, Rockhampton Regional Council used ground penetrating radar to identify an additional 279 plots.[9] This allowed burials to recommence at the cemetery for several more years.[9] In 2020, it was reported North Rockhampton Cemetery's imminent closure would occur in 2022.[10]

As of 2018, there had been over 25,100 burials in the North Rockhampton Cemetery.[2] This includes the Rockhampton War Cemetery which is located within the North Rockhampton Cemetery and maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[11]

Despite the first burials taking place less than twenty years after the smaller South Rockhampton Cemetery, North Rockhampton Cemetery is not yet heritage listed.

Location

Entrance to North Rockhampton Cemetery, 2022

Originally situated on what was then the outskirts of North Rockhampton, the city's rapid commercial development of the late 20th century saw the cemetery quickly surrounded by urban infrastructure and residential housing. This included the Marian College for Girls which opened next to the cemetery in 1964 (becoming Emmaus College in 1983).[12]

A major shopping centre called Rockhampton Shopping Fair was built diagonally opposite the cemetery in 1983 which officially opened in 1985.[13] The centre later re-branded to Stockland Rockhampton in 2004 and underwent a major expansion in 2009 when it expanded over Moores Creek onto the old K Mart Plaza site, which opened in 1979.[14][15]

Many other retail outlets, petrol stations and accommodation providers are located nearby, with applications lodged for further commercial development.[16][17]

North Rockhampton Cemetery is situated at one of Rockhampton's busiest intersections as the Bruce Highway carries large volumes of traffic past the cemetery. As such, there have been numerous traffic incidents near the cemetery.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

A pedestrian overpass was installed in front of the cemetery in 2010 to provide a safe passage for pedestrians to cross the highway, particularly Emmaus College students.[25]

When the Rockhampton Ring Road is complete, the Bruce Highway will no longer go through Rockhampton meaning the volume of traffic travelling past the cemetery will likely decrease.[26]

Notable burials

Plaque near the entrance to the North Rockhampton Cemetery, commemorating the burial of Maria Thozet, 2022

Maria Thozet: In 1923, Maria Thozet, the wife of famed botanist Anthelme Thozet, was buried in the cemetery against her wishes.[27] This was despite her husband, son and daughter-in-law all having been buried in a family plot on "Muellerville", the Thozet family property in Koongal.[27] The graves, which were rediscovered in 2010, were originally marked by an obelisk of Carrara marble.[27]

However, after Maria Thozet's death, "Muellerville" was sold. The obelisk subsequently was sold by the new owners, removed, repurposed and installed on a separate unrelated plot at the North Rockhampton Cemetery while Maria Thozet lay in an unmarked grave. Aside from information which indicates Maria Thozet is buried in the Anglican section of the cemetery, the precise location of her grave is unknown. Therefore, the Rockhampton & District Historical Society installed a commemorative plaque in her memory which was erected near the entrance to the cemetery.[28]

1943 air disasters: The bodies of numerous Australian armed services personnel were buried in the Rockhampton War Cemetery at the North Rockhampton Cemetery following two major wartime air disasters which occurred in the Central Queensland region four weeks apart in 1943, during World War II. The Rewan air crash on 16 November 1943 and the Canal Creek air crash on 19 December 1943 killed a total of 50 people, including numerous United States military personnel.

Queenie Hart: In August 2022, the remains of Queenie Hart, a 28-year-old Aboriginal woman murdered in 1975, were exhumed from the unmarked grave at the North Rockhampton Cemetery where she originally buried and returned to Cherbourg.[29][30] Her killer was never brought to justice with the only suspect dying in 2019.[29] Family and friends of the victim believe the case was never given a high priority due to racial prejudices held by the police and media.[29] The exhumation took place after the victim's family raised more than $20,000 through a crowdfunding platform. Before the exhumation, the traditional owners of the land the North Rockhampton Cemetery sits on, the Darumbal people, held a corroboree and smoking ceremony.[29] The woman's remains were then transported to Cherbourg where a celebration of the woman's life was held.[29][31]

Danny Malone: When internationally renowned Irish tenor Danny Malone unexpectedly died on a train between Marmor and Raglan while en route to Gladstone during a 1951 tour, his body was brought back to Rockhampton where he was buried at the North Rockhampton Cemetery.[32][33][34]

Notable burials at the North Rockhampton Cemetery include:

References

  1. 1 2 3 "North Rockhampton Cemetery consecrated". The Morning Bulletin. 16 September 1879. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "North Rockhampton Cemetery Burial Index" (PDF). Rockhampton Regional Council. January 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Beautifying grounds of Northside Cemetery, substantial improvements". The Morning Bulletin. 1 December 1932. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Boy pinned by tombstone". The Morning Bulletin. 20 May 1946. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  5. ↑ "Injured by tombstone". The Morning Bulletin. 29 August 1949. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  6. 1 2 Thurecht, Mikarla (10 June 2005). "Better safety at graveside". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 Wratten, Adam (2 March 2010). "Cemetery in "disgraceful" state". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  8. 1 2 Plane, Melanie (12 October 2016). "'Clown' charged following cemetery incident". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  9. 1 2 Gately, Michelle (8 October 2015). "Radar finds room for 279 new burials at cemetery". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  10. ↑ Jarrett, Vanessa (3 June 2020). "Gracemere cemetery needs to expand ahead of full capacity". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Rockhampton War Cemetery". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "Our Rich History". Emmaus College. Catholic Education (Diocese of Rockhampton). Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Condon, Turi (31 January 1992). "Shopping Centre bought for $40m". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  14. ↑ Formosa, Amy (22 September 2009). "Down it goes!". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Rockhampton Centres Study". Livingstone Shire Council. November 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Stockland Rockhampton is the combination of the former Rockhampton Shopping Fair constructed in 1985 and the Kmart Plaza, which opened in 1979.
  16. ↑ Jarrett, Vanessa (22 November 2021). "Moores Creek Road development plans for service station and drive-thru fast food outlet". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Holdsworth, Matty (12 September 2017). "Stockland Rockhampton launches legal action on major rival". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Meat truck overturns". The Morning Bulletin. 19 September 1941. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  19. ↑ "Car overturns, four injured". The Central Queensland Herald. 21 June 1956. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "Bicycle and car collide on corner of Yaamba and Moores Creek Rd". The Morning Bulletin. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  21. ↑ Mesner, Kerri-Anne (18 April 2016). "Boat on Bruce Highway causes traffic delays". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  22. ↑ Mesner, Kerri-Anne; Hooker, Amber (14 October 2016). "Three taken to hospital following North Rockhampton crash". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  23. ↑ Dodd, Zhanae (7 June 2018). "Two hospitalised after multiple car crash in Rocky". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  24. ↑ Aden, Stokes (3 July 2021). "Road blocked in North Rockhampton after campervan and car collide". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Overpass winning high profile". The Morning Bulletin. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  26. ↑ "Rockhampton Ring Road: plan, preserve and construct". Department of Transport and Main Roads. Queensland Government. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  27. 1 2 3 "Thozet family history". Thozets at Muellerville. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Her last wish had been to be buried on Muellerville with her husband, son and daughter-in-law. This was refused, and she was buried in the North Rockhampton cemetery where today her grave is unmarked
  28. ↑ "Madame Thozet". Monument Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Stunzner, Inga (18 August 2022). "Murdered woman Queenie Hart returned to Cherbourg after 47 years in unmarked grave". ABC News. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  30. ↑ Stunzner, Inga (9 July 2021). "'Healing enduring injustice': Queenie Hart coming home after 46 years in unmarked grave". ABC News. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  31. ↑ "Obituaries: Queenie Hart". Generation Funerals. 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the burial of Queenie Hart. Queenie Hart is being returned to her country with a smoking ceremony commencing at 11.00 am at the Cherbourg Cemetery.
  32. ↑ "Died on train". Queensland Times. 22 August 1951. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  33. ↑ "Family notices". The Morning Bulletin. 23 August 1951. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  34. ↑ "Danny Malone testimonial". The Morning Bulletin. 25 August 1951. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  35. ↑ "Gray, George Henry (1903–1967)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. 1996. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  36. ↑ "Family notices: The late Hon. Walter Charles Ingram M.L.A for Keppel". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  37. ↑ "Final homage paid, long funeral cortege". The Morning Bulletin. 9 September 1935. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  38. ↑ "Death of Mr. J. Linnett". The Morning Bulletin. 17 May 1902. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  39. ↑ "Family notices". The Morning Bulletin. 23 August 1951. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  40. ↑ "Funeral of Flora Prior". The Morning Bulletin. 1 March 1947. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  41. ↑ "Tragic death of youthful beauty". Truth. 20 January 1935. Retrieved 19 September 2022. The funeral of Miss Reiger took place at 5pm on Wednesday from Tucker's funeral parlours in Alma Street and the casket was followed by a very large gathering of mourners to the North Rockhampton cemetery where the remains of the girl were laid to their last resting place in the shadow of the Berserker Mountains.
  42. ↑ "ABBOTT, Roy Edgar". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 40 years
  43. ↑ "BISHOP, Victor Frederick". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Injuries ( accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 29 years
  44. ↑ "BRADY, William". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 30 years
  45. ↑ "DAVEY, Trevor William". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 41 years
  46. ↑ "DORMAN, William Howard". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 39 years
  47. ↑ "LOCKIE, Hartley Horace". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 35 years
  48. ↑ "MAXWELL, John Given". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 22 years
  49. ↑ "MILDREN, Andrew Henry". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 39 years
  50. ↑ "MORRIS, Francis Paul". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental, Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 25 years
  51. ↑ "PARKER, William Joseph". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 30 years
  52. ↑ "PITCHFORD, Ronald Keith". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 28 years
  53. ↑ "ROWSELL, Ross". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Injuries ( accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 23 years
  54. ↑ "SIMS, Stanley Kirk". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 22 years
  55. ↑ "WATKIN, Albert Ernest". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 16 November 1943, aged 27 years
  56. ↑ "CAMERON, Donald Cantrol". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 21 years
  57. ↑ "GEDDES, Alexander William Robert". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Canal Creek via Yaamba, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 25 years
  58. ↑ "MOLLISON, Crawford Derek". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Death: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Canal Creek via Yaamba, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 39 years
  59. ↑ "RASMUSSEN, Benjamin". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Canal Creek via Yaamba, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 32 years
  60. ↑ "SHARD, Thomas William". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Canal Creek via Yaamba, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 25 years
  61. ↑ "SLEEP, William Barry". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Canal Creek via Yaamba, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 21 years
  62. ↑ "WEIR, John Hugho". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2022. Died: Accidental (Aircraft accident), Canal Creek via Yaamba, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1943, aged 31 years
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