Boroondara General Cemetery, often referred to as Kew cemetery, is one of the oldest

cemeteries A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many dead people are buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ) implies th ...

in Victoria, Australia, created in the tradition of the Victorian garden cemetery. The cemetery, located in

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is ...

, a suburb of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, is listed as a heritage place on the

Victorian Heritage Register The Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) lists places deemed to be of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 2017. The Minister for Planning is the responsible Minister. ...

History

The cemetery site was reserved in 1855 and trustees were first appointed in 1858. A

site plan A site plan or a plot plan is a type of drawing used by architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and engineers which shows existing and proposed conditions for a given area, typically a parcel of land which is to be modified. Sites pl ...

was drawn up by Frederick Acheson, a civil engineer in the Public Lands Office, with the layout segregated by

religious denomination A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name and tradition, among other activities. The term refers to the various Christian denominations (for example, Oriental Orthodox Churches, non-Chalcedonian, E ...

, a common occurrence at the time. The first burial took place in 1859. In 1864 Albert Purchas, who was architect and surveyor for the

Melbourne General Cemetery The Melbourne General Cemetery is a large (43 hectare) necropolis located north of the city of Melbourne in the suburb of Carlton North. The cemetery is notably the resting place of five Prime Ministers of Australia, more than any other ...

, joined the trust. Purchas is believed to be the designer of the landscape layout as well as many of the features of the cemetery including the cast iron entrance gates (1889), the rotunda (1890) and the surrounding ornamental brick wall (1895–96), as well as various additions to the original 1860 Cottage in the period 1866–1899 including the clock tower. The design of the cemetery was influenced by the

Victorian Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literatur ...

garden cemetery movement. This influence was reflected in the curving path network following the contours of the site, the creation of defined views and a park like setting. In the latter half of the twentieth century the cemetery was becoming full and many pathways and grassed verges were used to provide new burial sites. At the same time, many of the older

monuments began to fall into disrepair due to their age and lack of funding to maintain them. However, since about 2010, with the assistance of enthusiastic volunteers from the Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery, the cemetery is undergoing a horticultural renaissance, returning to its early glory as a garden cemetery. In 2001 the Peace Haven

Mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type o ...

was built by the Cemetery Trust to cater for growing demand for above-ground burials and interments, and in 2011 garden crypts were opened in a bushland setting near the High Street pedestrian gate. The cemetery is still an operating cemetery, offering a range of burial and interment options.

Burials and memorials

The cemetery has had more than 80,000 burials since 1859. Among these are some very prominent Melburnians. The Syme memorial was constructed in 1908 in memory of

David Syme David Syme (2 October 1827 – 14 February 1908) was a Scotland, Scottish-Australian newspaper proprietor of ''The Age'' and regarded as "the father of Protectionism, protection in Australia" who had immense influence in the Government of Victor ...

, publisher of ''

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

'' newspaper. It has a temple-like appearance and

Egyptian ''Egyptian'' describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of year ...

motifs. Between 1889 and 1907 the Springthorpe Memorial was constructed on behalf of Dr John Springthorpe in memory of his wife, Annie and in 1912 the Cussen Memorial was commissioned by Sir Leo Cussen, a judge of the Victorian Supreme Court as a memorial to his son, Hubert. The latter is a small chapel designed in the

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

style. The Springthorpe and Cussen Memorials are listed separately on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Notable interments

* John Arthur Andrews (1865–1903), anarchist, journalist, poet, linguist * George Henry Bennett (1850–1908), brewer, benefactor, politician, Mayor of

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a city in the United States * Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...

, president of

Richmond Football Club The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers or colloquially the Tiges, is a professional Australian rules football team competing in the Australian Football League (AFL). Founded in 1885 in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, Victoria, Ric ...

Graham Berry Sir Graham Berry, (28 August 1822 – 25 January 1904), was an Australian colonial politician and the 11th Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most de ...

(1822–1904), Premier of Victoria * Joseph Bosisto (1827–1898), chemist, politician, eucalyptus manufacturer and advocate *

Louis Buvelot Louis Buvelot (3 March 1814 – 30 May 1888), born Abram-Louis Buvelot, was a Swiss landscape painter who lived 17 years in Brazil, and following 5 years back in Switzerland, stayed 23 years in Australia, where he influenced the Heidelberg Sch ...

(1814–1888), artist *

Edward William Cole Edward William Cole, also known as "E. W. Cole of the Book Arcade", (4 January 183216 December 1918) was a bookseller and founder of the ''Cole's Book Arcade'', Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.E. Cole Turnley"Cole, Edward William (1832–1918)" ' ...

(1832–1918), "Cole of the Book Arcade", bookseller and children's book publisher * Amalie Colquhoun (1894–1974), artist * Madge Connor (1874–1952), pioneering police officer, private investigator * Evelyn Conyers (1870–1944), Australian army nursing matron * Leo Cussen (1859–1933), jurist * William Davidson (1844–1920), engineer, pioneer of Melbourne's water supply *

Owen Dixon Sir Owen Dixon (28 April 1886 – 7 July 1972) was an Australian judge and diplomat who served as the sixth Chief Justice of Australia. Many consider him to be Australia's most prominent jurist.Graham Perkin �Its Most Eminent Symbol Hidde ...

(1886–1972), Chief Justice * Edmund Duggan (1862–1938), actor & playwright *

Frank Gavan Duffy Sir Frank Gavan Duffy (29 February 1852 – 29 July 1936) was an Australian judge who served as the fourth Chief Justice of Australia, in office from 1931 to 1935. His total service on the High Court of Australia was from 1913 to 1935. Pri ...

(1852–1936), Chief Justice * Edward Dunn (1844–1937), geologist * William Fitchett (1841–1928), journalist, educator * Major General John Forsyth (1867–1928), soldier * Thomas Sergeant Hall (1858–1915), scientist * Lesbia Harford (1891–1927), poet * H. C. A. Harrison (1836–1929), sports administrator, pioneer of Australian Rules Football * Helen Hart (1839–1908), Suffragist, lecturer, poet, evangelist * Edythe Ellison Harvie (1902–1984), architect *

Edward Henty Edward Henty (28 March 1810 – 14 August 1878), was a pioneer British colonist and is regarded as the first permanent settler in the Port Phillip district (later known as the colony of Victoria), Australia. Early life and family background ...

(1812–1878), pioneer * Major General Godfrey Irving (1867–1937), soldier * Jules François de Sales Joubert (1824–1907), impresario, prospector * Ian MacFarlan (1881–1964), Premier of Victoria *

Marion Macfarlane Marion Macfarlane (19 July 1840 – 29 April 1898) was the first woman to be ordained in the Anglican Church in Australia. She was ordained to the "Female Diaconate" in 1884 in the Diocese of Melbourne, then in 1886 converted to Catholicism, to ...

(1840–1898), Anglican deaconess and Roman Catholic nun * John Simpson Mackennal (1832–1901), sculptor & architect * Mona McBurney (1862–1932), composer * Georgiana McCrae (1804–1890), pioneer, artist, diarist *

William Murray McPherson Sir William Murray McPherson, KBE (17 September 1865 – 26 July 1932) was an Australian philanthropist and politician. He was the 31st Premier of Victoria. Early life and philanthropy He was born in West Melbourne, the son of a prosperous S ...

(1865–1932), Premier of Victoria *

John Michell John Michell (; 25 December 1724 – 21 April 1793) was an English natural philosopher and clergyman who provided pioneering insights into a wide range of scientific fields including astronomy, geology, optics, and gravitation. Considered "on ...

(1863–1940), mathematician * Francis Murphy (1809–1891), politician, first Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly *

Charles Nuttall Charles Nuttall (born James Charles Nuttall; 6 September 1872 – 28 November 1934) was a prolific Australian artist, writer and radio broadcaster. He spent much of his working life in Melbourne, apart from a period in New York City from 1905 ...

(1872–1934), artist, writer * William Orr (1843–1929), mining magnate and politician * John Gibson Paton (1824–1907), Presbyterian missionary to Vanuatu * Carl Pinschof (1855–1926), merchant, consul, arts patron * Albert Purchas (1825–1909), architect, surveyor * Joseph Reed (1823–1890), architect *

Mary Rogers Mary Cecilia Rogers (born c. 1820 – found dead July 28, 1841) was an American murder victim whose story became a national sensation. Rogers was a noted beauty who worked in a New York tobacco store, which attracted the custom of many distingui ...

(1872–1932), first woman elected to local government in Victoria *

Stanley Savige Lieutenant general (Australia), Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige, (26 June 1890 – 15 May 1954) was an Australian Army soldier and officer who served in the First World War and Second World War. In March 1915, after the outbr ...

(1890–1954), soldier, founder of

Legacy Legacy or Legacies may refer to: Arts and entertainment Comics * " Batman: Legacy", a 1996 Batman storyline * '' DC Universe: Legacies'', a comic book series from DC Comics * ''Legacy'', a 1999 quarterly series from Antarctic Press * ''Legacy ...

* John Springthorpe (1855–1933), physician * Nellie Stewart (1858–1931), actor and singer * Edward Shaw (died 1889), New Zealand politician *

George Sutherland George Alexander Sutherland (March 25, 1862July 18, 1942) was a British-born American jurist and politician. He served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court between 1922 and 1938. As a member of the Republican Party, he also repre ...

(1855–1905), author & journalist *

(1827–1908), newspaper proprietor * Charles Alfred Topp (1847–1932), education administrator and public servant * Camillo Triaca (1887–1902), sculptor, restaurateur * Elise Wiedermann (1851–1922), soprano * David Wang (1920–1978), retailer, councillor, Chinese community pioneer * Basil Watson (1894–1917), aviator * William Williams FLS (1848–1913), naturalist and Methodist minister * John Wisker (1846–1884), British chess champion *

John Wren John Wren (3 April 1871 – 26 October 1953) was an Australian bookmaker, boxing and wrestling promoter, Irish nationalist, land speculator, newspaper owner, racecourse and racehorse owner, soldier, pro-conscriptionist and theatre owner. He ...

(1851–1953), bookmaker, businessman, political operator * John Dickson Wyselaskie (1818–1883), grazier, benefactor * Alberto Zelman (1874–1927), conductor, founder of

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an Australian orchestra based in Melbourne. The MSO is resident at Hamer Hall. The MSO has its own choir, the MSO Chorus, following integration with the Melbourne Chorale in 2008. The MSO relies on fun ...

War graves

The cemetery contains the war graves of 45 Commonwealth service personnel, 30 from

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and 15 from

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

.Boroondara General Cemetery
CWGC Cemetery Report. Breakdown obtained from casualty records.

Trees

The cemetery has a notable collection of mature trees including rows of Bhutan Cypress (''Cupressus torulosa'') and

Italian cypress ''Cupressus sempervirens'', the Mediterranean cypress (also known as Italian cypress, Tuscan cypress, Persian cypress, or pencil pine), is a species of Cupressus, cypress native plant, native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Iran. While s ...

(''Cupressus sempervirens'' 'Italica'), as well as specimens of Bunya Bunya (''Araucaria bidwillii''), Canary Island Pine (''Pinus canariensis''), Weeping Elms (''Ulmus glabra'' 'Camperdownii'), Queensland Kauri (''Agathis robusta'') and Weeping Cypress (''Cupressus funebris'').

References

External links

Boroondara General Cemetery (official site)

Boroondara General Cemetery
– Billion Graves
Victorian Heritage Register: Boroondara General Cemetery

Victorian Heritage Register: Boroondara General Cemetery (rtf)

Friends of Boroondara (Kew) General Cemetery Inc.
{{coord, -37.8034, 145.0440, type:landmark_region:AU, display=title Heritage sites in Melbourne Cemeteries in Melbourne Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne 1859 establishments in Australia Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Australia Buildings and structures in the City of Boroondara