Blackwood Cemetery
Situated at 35 Byers Road, the Blackwood cemetery is historically significant for its associations with the early development of the Blackwood goldfields. The earliest recorded burial is William Lawson in 1855. Eight acres were reserved for the cemetery in 1860, a large site in line with Blackwood’s considerable population at the time. The site marks the final resting place of numerous people of the Blackwood district from the 19th, 20th and 21st century, many of whom made an important contribution to the development of the area, the township and community life.
The cemetery is maintained and managed by the Blackwood Cemetery Trust. All members of the Trust are local volunteers. The cemetery itself is a steeply sloping grassed site with numerous headstones, monuments and grave surrounds. There are two cremation walls, the first under the pergola at the entrance and the other at the western end of the driveway. There is also a lawn cemetery area in the north west section. The grave sites are laid out in regular rows and segregated into Christian denominations – Methodist, Anglican and Roman Catholic. At the rear of the cemetery in unconsecrated ground are Chinese graves and a stillborn section. The Chinese section is a reflection of the demographics of the town during the gold mining years. A large Chinese settlement existed at Golden Point. They ran businesses and set up market gardens in addition to seeking gold. They also built a Joss House temple at Golden Point, which sadly has not survived.
The largest monument in the cemetery belongs to Matthew and Mary Rogers’ family. Matthew was a very successful miner and businessman. The monument is situated in the highest section of the cemetery and features marble angels made from Italian Carrara marble. The base is of grey Scotch and Harcourt granite. It was completed in 1869 at a cost of 800 pounds. The Rogers built the sandstone cottage at the front of the Garden St Erth in Simmons Reef and resided there during the 1860s and ‘70s.
The grave of Little Doaty, found just inside the front gate, inspires much curiosity. Josephine Rowan was called Doaty by her younger brother. Many stories have been told about her death, including falling down a mineshaft, being butted into a dam by a goat – the sad truth is that her death certificate records that she died of diphtheria at the age of four. Her father Joseph was the local clerk of courts at the time.
Blackwood cemetery boasts many women who were true pioneers of their time being strong, savvy and independent. Notable for their contribution are hotel owners such as Bridget Cruise, who built the Blackwood Hotel; Pauline Bonfond from Chart in France, who made an excellent living contracting to cut the water races for sluicing gold around the hills; and Grace Allan and Bessie Armstrong, who were midwives. You can find more information on leaflets for a self-guided walk through the cemetery, available in the pergola.
Three Norway spruce mark the entrance to the cemetery and mature blackwoods and eucalypts surround the cemetery enhancing the rural, bush setting. There are many other beautiful and historic gravestones in the cemetery. There is a story to each of the lives of people buried here, every one of them important and unique. What a beautiful place for them to be at rest.
The Blackwood Town interpretation signs were financed by Blackwood Progress Association Inc.
Sources
- Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1866 – 1943), Saturday 11 May, 1895
