The cemetery dates back to the 1840's with the grave of William Tom who was the man who discovered the first payable gold find at Ophir in 1851. The headstone is still in good condition. Byng is full of history.
Before European settlement the area around Byng was inhabited by the Wiradjuri people.
* In 1830 William Tom chose 640 acres in the district and called his property Springfield. The area's Celtic associations are also apparent in the three welcome stones on the porch of 'Springfield' homestead. Custom dictated that the host would stand on the top step, the guest on the bottom, and they would greet each other in the middle.
* In the 1830s, following the lead of William Tom, other Cornishmen moved into the area - families with surnames like Lane, Grenfell, Pearse, Thomas, Oates and Paull settled in the district.
* Bookanan, probably the oldest homestead in the area, was built in 1840 by John Glasson, a descendant of George Hawke.
* Byng was initially known as 'Cornish Village' due to the preponderance of Cornish settlers in the earliest days of the settlement.
* In 1841 George Hawke introduced cherries, plums and apples to the area. These fruit trees at the 'Pendarves' estate became the genesis of Orange's fruit industry.
* In 1842 the first Wesleyan Church was built in Byng. It was the first non-conformist church west of the Blue Mountains.
* In 1852 the Government Surveyor submitted a report for the establishment of a reserve in the Parish of Byng.
* In 1854 the village reserve was established and the first allotments were surveyed.
* By 1856 the village is established as a few scattered houses in the valley.
* In 1873 the Wesleyan Church is completed.
* In 1885 the village was officially proclaimed between Lewis Ponds Creek and Sheep Station Creek.
Good website on history of the area below
https://famtrees.info/cornishtext.htm