As usual, italics are used for transcriptions of information provided at the site.
Background first. Like any respectable city, the many cemeteries in central Hobart were closed down years ago (I say central, because I know there’s at least one small cemetery on the eastern shore, so I assume others small cemeteries in other outlying suburbs). Some were converted to parks, some to school grounds, some to housing developments.
The new cemetery, at Cornelian Bay, was opened in 1872, bordering the river on what was sometime previously the Government farms. The area was divided up among the various religious denominations, the space allocated decided from the previous census. Headstones from other cemeteries were relocated here.
At various points, there are signs pointing to graves of interest. It wasn’t always obvious where the relevant grave was, and I didn’t go searching them out, but I did note the ones I saw.
St Johns Park Headstones and Queenborough Memorial
St Johns Park, in New Town, had a large cemetery near the church and old orphanage buildings, which today is cleared ground except for one monument.
The wall at the back says
Sacred to the memory of those who were reinterred at Cornelian Bay from the Queenborough Cemetery 1960-1963
Queenborough was down south, in the Sandy Bay. It operated as a cemetery from 1873 until the early-20th century which is about as much as I know but for more information the Oval has a Wikipedia page
The relocated headstones have been arranged by type. I’m sure that was a good idea at the time.
November 1872 – March 1935
Many of those buried here were probably residents of the New Town Charitable Institution. One side effect of dumping thousands of men on the far side of the world is breaking family ties which weren’t always renewed, so when the men become too old to work, they have no one to support them, and ended up here. (Women generally seemed to fare better in that regard, maybe because they were more like to have children to support them.)
Designed by William Henry Lord, Colonial architect
Constructed 1876
The big, white one. I guess he was a son of David Lord, because he is buried there (the name on the right face). Major land owner, the “richest man in the colony”, who seemed to do a good imitation of a squatter.
I missed the foremost sign, or it was something routine, like “Toilets —>”.
Something made me think some of these had been relocated. Oh yeah, the dates š
The tall monument is for Judah Solomon, died 1856, brother and business partner of Joseph, and donator of land for the Hobart synagogue
Hobart War Cemetery
The Cornelian Bay Public Cemetery contains the graves of the Australian Military Forces who died during the Second World War. They include 9 RAN, 56 Australian Army and 10 RAAF personnel. Forty-two of these are buried in the War Cemetery which also contains the graves of 9 World War I veterans who died during the Second World War.
The monument, along with a list of names, says
In memory of the Rabaul Garrison who made the supreme sacrifice in 1924.
“They Shall Not Grow Old”
The panel on the gate, about the war cemetery, says
A second memorial in the cemetery, the Rabaul Memorial is dedicated to 39 Tasmanian soldiers of “Lark Force”, the Australian Army contingent charged with the defence of Rabaul, New Britain, against the Japanese in 1942
Blacksmith’s Forge
Constructed circa 1830 as part of the former government farms.
The French Monument
An expedition commanded by Dumont d’Urville of the L’Astrolabe put ashore in Hobart Town in 1839. 20 sailors and 4 lieutenants had died en route from Suva and were buried at sea. On arrival 2 more died in Hobart Town and were given a full Naval funeral. They were buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Barrack Street (now St. Virgil’s College).
There’s a bit more to the story (disease and quarantine maybe) but I can’t recall or find it.
Darryl Hanrahan
March 31, 2019 at 1:00pmI am trying to locate the graves of Richard Fleet Bellis ( died 07/02/1911) and his wife Martha Agnes Bellis (died 27/02/1928) both buried at Queensborough.
I am trying to locate so I can publish on find a grave and to eventually have someone take a photo of their graves.
Your help or assistance or if you could advise who could assist would be greatly appreciated
Monissa Whiteley
March 31, 2019 at 10:32pmHi,
I’m don’t know if there’s a list of existing headstones. It’s been a few years since i did this. You might do better to ask on one of the family history lists or Facebook groups.