Six-Feet-Down-Under : Manly Cemetery

This little handkerchief of a burial ground was probably way out in the boon docks when it was established in 1872. Although, Jane McLean's monument went up in 1863, and there is a charming story of a birder stumbling across a rough-hewn cross for an infant c.1861. It is small and rectangular, perhaps a normal suburban block. But it is still in use, although only cremations and burial in existing plots is any longer permitted. It is similar to Gore Hill Cemetery in that regard. Both established in the middle of the 19th century.

It is divided into religious demoninations, as were all cemeteries of that era. Christian religious demoninations, you realise. The protties and the micks. Those that protested against the ruling Protestants (eg Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists) were begrudgingly allocated a General section. One only has to look at the dedications on the headstones to be fully aware when one moves from one section to the next. This is a relatively austere cemetery, meaning devoid of excessive decoration. There are a few angels and Marys but it gives every indication that the people who chose to spend eternity in this burial ground knew the value of money and the necessity of hard work, and kept their ego well in check.

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Once again, this cemetery was the recipient of a removal from the old Devonshire Street Cemetery which made way for Central Railway Station in the first few years of the 20th century. One William Aberdeen who died in 1845 was reinterred here in Manly in 1899. There are a number of headstones that were instantly memorable and which I will research in more detail as time goes on. The stonemasons were mostly journeymen, judging from their finished product. George Watters’ monumental mason’s yard operated on the corner of Griffiths and Hill Streets, opposite the cemetery from around 1920; his name is carved on several headstones. The Pickworths had their masons’ yard in Harland Street from the 1930s.

The burial ground is now under the care of the Manly Council. Unlike the old Balmain Burial Ground out in Leichhardt, which was turned into a Pioneers' Park during the years of WW2, Manly Cemetery has a long way to go to be mothballed. They are still taking ashes and bodies for burial. The grass is mowed, and the memorials are kept secure. There is some destruction as you can see in the images, but this could be the result of erosion and weather, rather than vandalism. But there is little in the way of decoration; few flowers; fewer vases. It is kept tidy, without being loved.

Funerary Objet d'Art - Point Clare

in my first image yesterday, in my post about William and Rose Loaney, you would have seen two very small ceramic tea-pots, placed nonchalantly on the edge of the head-stone. Not far away, a row or two, I discovered this little beauty. There are actually two of them.

But what do they mean? Perhaps the Loaneys and the Vales were always up for a cuppa? One of the laterally wonderful things about these funerary objet d'art, is that they have not been pilfered! All theories welcome, even unrealistic ones ...

Taphophile Tragics # 38

Thomas Lovell died in 1839 at the age of 39. According to his headstone, there is noone else occupying the same plot. So perhaps this wrought iron fence around his plot dates from 1839, too. St Matthew's Anglican Church, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

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Welcome to the 38th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

You may have noticed that I am posting to this blog more regularly now. I will post my own contribution to each weekly TT meme on the Monday instead of posting to 'Sydney Eye'. On Wednesdays, I will post about funerary symbolism. On Fridays, I will post about a cemetery in Australia under the sub-heading, 'Six-Feet-Down-Under'. Join me if that sounds of interest.

Taphophile Tragics - DIY

William and Rose married in 1916, and had seven children: five sons and two daughters. Their eternal resting place - with one of their sons beside them - is a wonderful mix of European and Australian. Going back into their family history, it appears that Rose could be of Jewish descent. However, there is little on the graves to indicate that she took it at all personally. One interesting thing of the very little that I managed to discover about Bill and Rose, is that both their mothers had the maiden name 'Muir'. Now this could be a coincidence, or they could have been distant cousins, as has happened in my own family. Which may explain a bit!!

Now look at the wonderful texture on this double grave. Is there symbolism of some sort involved with the shells and the stones? Any ideas? And what of that shape on the headstone of Bill and Rose, the one shaped like something out of a science laboratory? Now, direct your eyes to the base of their headstone. See those two wee tea-pots. How wonderful are they? Finally, look at the embossed metal around each of the photographs. It is imprinted with shapes that I am unable to discern, but suspect have immense meaning.

Bill and Rose are spending eternity at Point Clare Cemetery, outside Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast.

This is my contribution to the Taphophile Tragics Community.

This is my contribution to the Cemetery Sunday Community.

This post is also linked up to Graveyard Rabbits on FB.

Six-Feet-Down-Under : St Matthews, Windsor

My first trip to the graveyard surrounding the Anglican Church of St Matthews in Windsor, was in the middle of 2008 when I was a member of an Historic Houses Trust (HHT) group tracing the ill-feeling between the architect, Francis Greenway, and the builder, Henry Kitchen. And the towering ego of both these gentlemen, AND the governor of the colony, Lachlan Macquarie. The church was constructed in fits and starts between 1810 and 1820, with the first service conducted in 1821. Andrew Thompson was the first to be interred in the graveyard of this church, in 1810, and interred by none other than the Governor himself.


Even with a two hour wander, there was not enough time to carefully consider each and every gravestone, so I shall return before the end of this calender year. It is unusual in Sydney to see a graveyard, rather than a cemetery, although St Stephen's at Camperdown, and St Jude's at Randwick come readily to mind, both of which are also Anglican Churches. At St Matthew's, though, there has been much freelance renovation! There is a sign at the front of the church requesting that no work be done on the graves without prior authorisation, but I suspect this is honoured more in the breach. Neither St Stephen's, nor St Jude's, has stones with the print re-inked, or stones painted white to hightlight the print. And yet, there are some wonderfully historic resting places within this churchyard. I will research some of them, singularly, for my 'Monday-In-Memoriam' post to this expanding blog.

Is sacrilege like pregancy - you either are or you aren't?

This headstone dates from 1826, and wind, sun, and rain have had their way with it. What to do? What to do?

Bingo! Re-paint the big writing, 'cause that is funny! And then plug a plaque onto the back with all the small, unreadable writing. Tsk! Tsk! Surely, a discreet, adjacent notice-board would have been more respectful and informative.

At the order of Captain Brabyn, JP, Constable William Green came to the aid of Judith Connolly, who was being wooed - and jostled - by Issac Smith. Smith pistol-whipped the young constable, who died soon-after. Three weeks later, on a Friday, Smith was found guilty by Judge Francis Forbes of the NSW Supreme Court. He was hung, by Harry Stain the 'finisher of the law', on the Monday.

This memorial is located within the graveyard of St Matthew's Anglican Church, at Windsor, New South Wales.

Taphophile Tragics # 37

Each of these headstones was photographed at St Matthew's Anglican Church in Windsor, NSW, one of the earliest graveyards in the colony, the church being 'authorised' by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, and designed by the reknowned convict architect, Francis Greenway. The foundation stone states 1820.


My issue here: Is it sacrilege to renovate a headstone? A quick definition of sacrilege: the desecration or misuse of something regarded as worthy of extreme respect. The first headstone is showing extreme weathering and is already bordering on unreadable. The smaller pair of headstones have been 'renovated' in two separate styles. The final headstone ... what can one say about this level of vandalism? Each of these methods seem, to me, to be lacking a deft touch. But I do not want the information lost to history. But should history have the final say?

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Welcome to the 37th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.