Jewish Cemetery, Launceston

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Location on Google Maps. Not sure when this cemetery was in the use. The State Library ‘s guide to cemetery records says “1846?” for the year it opened. Possibly land was obtained at the same time the synagogue was built. The known burials date from 1858-1893.

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I went to try and find some more via death notices.

Esther Davis, died 21/8/1862, aged 12 days

In 1891, part of the land was offered for let.
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In 1927 it was in a bad state of neglect. From an article from the Illustrated Tasmanian Mail, 9 March 1927, with accompanying photo:

THE JEWISH BURIAL GROUND
Until quite recently the Jewish burial ground at Invermay was in a shocking state of disrepair. A stranger walking down South-street a few months ago would have been surprised to come upon a paddock containing seventeen to twenty headstones, which was serving as a grazing ground and a fowl-run for the horses and fowls of the neighbourhood. When Messrs. Joseph and Crawcour took the matter over, however, they immediately concentrated upon getting the place cleaned up, and made to look respectable. They were greatly assisted financially by Miss Falls and Mrs Hartman, of Evandale, who both made substantial contributions towards renovating the cemetery. It has now been properly fence, and the graves and headstones attended to.

It is an interesting fact that among the Jew buried at the cemetery at Invermay is the father of J. W. Israel, ex Auditor-General of Australia. J. W.Israel was one of the Jews who were born at Launceston.

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In 1938 the land was given to city council for use as a park (Examiner, 31 May 1938)

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8 thoughts on “Jewish Cemetery, Launceston

  1. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Susan

    July 5, 2018 at 8:13pm

    Hi my GGG grandfather Philip Joseph aka Moses Joseph was buried in this cemetery died August 7 , 1855 . I believe the Mr Joseph mentioned in 1927 must be one of his sons or even grandson ! Thankyou for your information now I know where the site was .

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      ANTHONY JOSEPH

      February 28, 2020 at 5:38am

      Afternoon…Philip Joseph aka Moses Joseph is my GG grandfather. Thanks for the date he died. A visit to Launceston (from Melbourne) is worth doing.
      One bit of data I have found…….Arrived in Australia 17/11/1820 at Tasmania on the Caledonia.
      My email is not allowed to be included…..WHY ?…….I have 3 sisters and a brother.
      My phone….0408 123 863

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      Teresa Sinclair

      March 10, 2020 at 4:52am

      Hello Susan
      I have visited our gggrandfathers resting place twice now and intend going again this year
      Nice to find where our ancestors reat and pay them some respect
      Teresa

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    Gregory

    November 1, 2019 at 9:49am

    Hello Susan.. Moses was my GGG also. and was a pleasant surprise to come across this site as well. I resided for near on a decade in Launceston and never discovered the burial site whilst there. Very Best Gregory Joseph.

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      John Israel

      January 26, 2020 at 1:19pm

      My great-great grandfather, John Cashmore Israel was also buried there too, in 1872. I have a lot on him from family history research, and almost certainly, all these people knew eachother well, being very probably associated with the founding of the Launceston synagogue. John Cashmore’s children however, were raised as Anglicans, though he remained Jewish in religion throughout his life, operating from his premises in Brisbane street and having at least two of his sons educated first in Abraham Barret’s school and then in Launceston Church Grammar School.

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      Teresa Sinclair

      March 10, 2020 at 4:58am

      Hello Susan and Gregory,
      I have visited the site twice and wondered around
      So nice to remember our gggrandfather and visit his resting place
      Teresa

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    Tim J

    March 30, 2020 at 9:56am

    Hello All,

    Has anyone been able to find who GGG-grandfather Philip/Moses parents were? I have tried extensively in vain.

    Thanks in advance,

    Tim

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    Terry Lyons

    November 9, 2021 at 5:55am

    Hello All.
    My GGGrandfather, Joshua Lyons, and his 10 year old son Jonas (John) are buried in Monash Reserve. I placed the original bronze plaque there in 2004 and conducted a Memorial Service there soon after. The photo above is that of the original plaque.
    In 2011, following further research, I placed a new plaque there with an expanded number of names/dates on it. Just days after I did this I discovered three more burials there: Elizabeth Nathan aged 8, Elizabeth Robinson infant, and John (Jonas) Lyons aged 10.
    I wrote up the story of my Lyons ancestors in “The Launceston Lyons”, a copy of which is in the Launceston Library (plus other State Libraries).

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