A small cemetery with prime views, there have been many fine and fitting funerals here. After gold was discovered in 1852, Harrietville grew and the need for a cemetery arose (especially since refrigeration was a challenge in hot weather!) On the 12th of February 1869 the three acres in front of you were gazetted for cemetery use and excised from the land then licensed to John O’Rourke.
Currently about 500 persons are interred, but amongst that number are 35 persons including 16 children, but it cannot accurately be determined in which grave they are buried. The old timers knew just where they put the ‘dead’ but neglected to accurately record it for future generations. Also, the cemetery has been burnt 3 times with the loss of any wooden monuments, thus removing any visual records.
There are names familiar to locals and the High Country and many interesting graves to look at. Many headstones are natural rock and have personalized designs, mini gardens, and tributes. On one, you will find a Spike Milligan poem. The Cemetery Trust now has rules to control those preferences. Enjoy your wander and the PRIME VIEWS.
Locate the following graves and headstones to calculate ABC and XYZ to find GZ at S 36° 52.ABC E 147° 3.XYZ
WP1 A : Rod Withers, was a local artist and adventurer. Look at the left image on the plaque. A is i) artwork 3, ii) paint brushes 6, or iii) profile of artist 1
WP2 B : Sarah Morell also known as mother Morell was reportedly a tough old geezer, and first ran the famous shanty at St Bernard on the Mt. Hotham road in the 1870's. B is second digit on plaque
WP3 C : John Bromley is credited as the first person to discover gold In Harrietville in 1852. C is 7th digit on 7th row.
sWP4 X : Annie Bibby, aged 63 in 1900, was Harrietville’s first midwife. X is # letters in first word, last row.
WP5 Y : There are two Chinese headstones behind the seat. After the Buckland riots in 1857, Chinese who fled over the Albion Ridge to Harrietville out numbered caucasians. The plaque on the seat is dedicated to Chinese pioneers. Y is # of words first row minus 6
WP6 Z : Nicholas and Bridget Clemens, - Nicholas was mine manager , they had 8 children and came to Harrietville in 1874. This is one of the earliest grave sites. Z is # of children mentioned on the headstone x 2
Sum check A+B+C = 15 X+Y+Z = 11