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Bourke Cemetery
The Bourke Cemetery occupies a large site (approx. 6ha) along the eastern side of Gorrell Avenue (the road to Cobar) approx 1km south of Bourke town.
The Coolibahs of Bourke cemetery guard a fascinating piece of Australia's frontier history. The Bourke Cemetery predates the town and has been the scene for two of Australia's most famous funerals. In 1892 a young Henry Lawson joined in the procession following the coffin of an unknown young stockman who had drowned in a billabong near Bourke. His union papers identified him simply as "James Tyson". (It was later discovered that his name was John Hallahan) The melancholy event was captured by Lawson in what became his best story ? "The Union Buries its Dead" ? a classic tale from the Western frontier.
In 1993 Professor Fred Hollows, the eye surgeon known world wide for his determination to restore the sight of people going needlessly blind, was buried in Bourke. His motto "that all the world may see" echoes the "mateship ethic" Lawson celebrated a century earlier as the true spirit of the bush.
Many of the epitaphs in the cemetery tell of the tragedy that constantly stalked the Western plains ? "drowned", "killed by lightning", "murdered", poisoned himself", shot dead by police". Sheer isolation took its toll too ? "found hanging in the bush", "found dead in the bush", "perished in the bush".
Bourke was proclaimed a Municipality in 1878 and while the cemetery was in use then, it was not dedicated until 7th January, 1879. In 1883 there was a plan to move the cemetery to North Bourke, but while land was selected, it was never used. In 1890 a flood and other floods afterwards caused the cemetery to be closed and at such times burials took place at the Hospital Grounds and North Bourke. Because of the floods and also fires that passed through the Cemetery in the early days, there are many unmarked graves.
It is a fascinating place to spend an hour browsing the inscriptions which will take you back into a world of bushrangers and drovers, cameleers and river boat men, lost children and local heroes.
- Children: The Luscombe's are typical of pioneering parents whose children were victims of epidemics such as typhoid, diptheria and tuberculosis.
- Bush Poet: Francis Brown one of a well-known river boat family suicided at Mt Gundabooka.
- Afghan Camel Men: A colourful reminder of the pioneer transport industry. They are buried facing Mecca.
- Chinese Graves: From the joss house days in Bourke when they tended the market gardens and made up ring-barking teams.
- River Steamers: Capt Wolter of the SS Pilot lost a son (Albert Steer Wolter). His was one of the hundred or so paddle wheelers that carried on the difficult river trade of the Darling. A young crewman on the Royal died in 1870, (Harry Pitcher).
- Publican: William Sly opened the first pub, owned the first cradle and dug the first grave. The headstone of his daughter is the oldest in the cemetery.
- Senior Constable: The bushranger "Capt. Starlight" badly wounded Senior Constable John McCabe in a shoot out in Enngonia.
- Heatwave: Conditions caused the barman of the Royal Hotel to go beserk. Two police were killed in the affray, Const. George Armitage and Const. Costigan.
- A Tragic Children's Day Picnic: In 1888 three children were killed when horses shied and a wagon broke. (Annie McCarthy, Arthur Payne and Ida Wharton).
- Nuns: Buried in a formal row represent the strong Catholic tradition of the town.
- Mayor: E.J. Bloxham, Bourke's first civic leader helped shape the early township.
- Fred Hollows: Although a native of New Zealand, he chose Bourke as his last resting place. His early acquaintance with the area and his work among the Western people caused him to form a deep affection for the area. A tem of International Sculptors carved the stone monument. The motif symbolises the ongoing work of this inspirational surgeon.
- Aboriginal: Graves were traditionally located on their own ceremonial grounds. Respected local leaders Wally Byers and Bill Reid are buried in the new section.
- Eccentric: ?Barefooted ? Harry' Rice ? went barefooted around town after his young wife drowned in the river and he was unable to remove his boots to save her. In the years that followed he frequented the riverbank in the hope that he might save another from the fate his loved one had met. He died September 1931 (Unmarked grave).
The approximate number of graves/burial sites is 5,863 (June 2002). The cemetery was surveyed in 1998.
Since 1998 the Bourke Mosque was re-located from Hope Street to the cemetery. The mosque is a very early and rare Moslem mosque built by the Afghan traders.
In July 2002, a columbarium has been built which can accommodate 18 urns. The landscaping has been carried out by the Bourke Garden Club.
There is also a Pet Cemetery alongside the General Cemetery on the southern side.
Link to Australian Cemeteries below:
www.ozgenonline.com/aust_cemeteries/
Contact details
Karen Harding
02 6872 2055 (ph)
02 6872 3030 (fax)
bourkeshire@bourke.nsw.gov.au
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