Cache #418.
East Wangaratta Cemetery was established in 1865 on land that was part of the Carraragarmungee Run, leased to Mrs Agnes Reid from 1838. It was given to the Baptist Church in 1860 by William Murdoch and in 1865 the Church was opened here.
The first Minister was the Rev. William Brightwell from England. Sadly, his daughter Mathilda, wife of Thomas Dunkley was the first person buried here after she died during childbirth in March 1866. The next burial was Robert Chard who died in 1869.
According to the plaque the last burials were - one in 1904 and three in 1907, but these four were re-interred at the Wangaratta Cemetery.
The church was also used as a school but in 1910 the Cemetery was closed and the church was moved to Wangaratta to become the Baptist Church Sunday School.
Unfortunately this burial place is now in ruins, or as I have named the cache, forlorn and forgotten.
The surnames of those buried here are Dunkley (approx 13?) Chard (4?) Carmichael (2) and Sanderson (2).
Over the past 110 years, tree suckers grew up amongst the graves, gradually breaking down the wrought iron fencing, leaving the head-stones to the mercy of the wandering stock. Apparently, the outer protecting fence had previously been destroyed by fire. Only two head-stones remain on the site, and even these are overturned.
As at September 2021 it looks like little maintenance has been done here for a very long time. It is sad to see.
This cache is not accessible from the Highway. The best way to approach the Cemetery, is heading from Wangaratta and turning left into Broster Road, just past the overpass.
As the cache is micro-sized please bring your own pen to add your name. No signature and your on-line log will be deleted.