Who would expect that almost in the heart of Parramatta, hidden by an old brick wall, is Australia's oldest surviving Christian Burial Ground? With not much information about it available at the site there is however some available at the Parramatta Tourist Centre.
The first burial ground in the colony had been in The Rocks but this has long since vanished. St John's was established on the southern outskirts of the Rose Hill settlement in 1790. It is believed the first burial was that of a child on 31/1/1790, however the oldest surviving grave is that of Henry Dodd, servant to Governor Phillip and the man responsible for setting up much of the early farms in the district as Superintendent of Convicts.
One story is that he passed away after drinking half a gallon of brandy. Knowing that it is probably just as well they didn't have a crematorium in those days! Other famous burials here, not all with surviving headstones, include David Lennox (stonemason), Samuel Marsden (Parramatta's first clergyman), John Harris (1st fleet surgeon) and William Batman (father of John Batman - the founder of Melbourne).
Unfortunately as you walk around you will discover sandstone is not the most durable of materials when it comes to trying to read the gravestones.
On to the cache. The first point should see you standing at the gates of the cemetery. On the right hand side is a dark coloured plaque proclaiming this to be the oldest cemetery in Australia followed by a year. At the bottom of the plaque is another 4 digit year. Take the 2nd digit of this year and call it A. Part 2 is a short walk inside at S33 48.A9A E150 59.885.
You will now be standing at Henry Dodd's grave. Unfortunately nothing is visible on the tombstone any more but there is a small brass plaque with information (possibly a transcription of the original tombstone). As there isn't much information here to work with, head 3 graves north until you find Eliza. Eliza died at age BB in the year 1CD2. The cache is located at S33 48.9CB E150 59.86D.
It should be in a reasonably obvious but out of casual sight spot.
Unluckily street parking is ticket only Monday-Saturday around this area, though up to 3 hours free parking is available over the road in Westfield
Information sourced from "A History of Parramatta" by Peter West, and the tourist information available from Parramatta Council.
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