Toowong Cemetery

The Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875 [ [http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD:305137761:pc=PC_911 Official Brisbane - Toowong Cemetery - website] ] . It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on the corner of Frederick Street and Mt Coot-tha Road approximately four and a half kilometres west of Brisbane on Forty four hectares.

History

Paddington Cemetery, Brisbane's original cemetery was located close to the Brisbane city near the northern end of the William Jolly Bridge. It was bounded by Skew Street, Saul Street, Eagle Terrace and Upper Roma Street and is situated on the current site of Suncorp Stadium. [ [http://www.cccpm.org.au/parish/history History of Christ Church, Milton] ] As Brisbane expanded due to its opening to free settlement in 1842, growth was such that the cemetery was eventually surrounded by residential properties. The cemetery had about twenty five hectares of land between Milton Road, Hale Street, Sweetman Street and Dowse Street.

In 1861 land was set aside for a new cemetery at Toowong. In 1870 a Cemetery Trust was established with trustees James Cowlishaw, John Hardgrave, William Pettigrew, Samuel Walker Griffith, George Edmonstone, Alexander Raff, John Petrie (Chairman), Michael Quinlan and Nathaniel Lade the trustees to search for alternative sites as the Toowong site was considered by some as inappropriate. [http://www.toowongwest.org.au/heritage_register/cemetery.htm Heritage Register] ] Colonel Samuel Blackall, Queensland's second Governor, had been a supporter of the Toowong site and in his ill health indicated his desire to be buried there — this was done when he was buried on the highest knoll on 3 January 1871. Even though Blackall had been buried, the search for an alternate site continued. The search was unsuccessful however and the Toowong site was eventually was accepted as the final location. Six more burials were performed before the official opening of the Cemetery in 1875.

In April 1975 the Cemetery was full with all plots having been sold. The Cemetery was closed to new burials except for family graves. The Brisbane City Council started a project to remove hundreds of worn, forgotten headstones in the three major city cemeteries. Old, neglected monuments were removed from Toowong, Lutwyche and South Brisbane cemeteries and trees and shrubs planted. The long term aim of the scheme was to return the cemeteries to open space with a parkland atmosphere. It is thought approximately 1,000 memorials were removed from Toowong.

The Cemetery was reopened in 1998 with approximately 450 plots available for sale.

Currently, the Cemetery is a popular place for joggers and dog walkers, with its over-hanging fig trees and winding pathways. It has also earned a reputation for being haunted. Brisbane Ghost Tours conduct regular guided tours through the grounds of the cemetery on Saturday nights.

Notable people interred

* Charles Heaphy portion 1; section 5; AL/34, 8th Avenue; grave 252 with headstone [ [http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD:305137761:pc=PC_899 Grave Location Search] ] .
* Samuel Wensley Blackall, Queensland's second governor

External links

* [http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD:305137761:pc=PC_909 Official Brisbane - Historic Cemeteries - website]
* [http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD:305137761:pc=PC_911 Toowong Cemetery]
* [http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD:305137761:pc=PC_899 Grave Location Search]
* [http://www.ghost-tours.com.au Official Ghost Tours of Toowong Cemetery]

References