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Pioneer Park Cemetery
Wollongong, South Coast & Illawarra Region, New South Wales, Australia

Banks and Kembla Streets, Wollongong NSW

Contributed by Wayne Hill, Dec 10, 2005, last edited Aug 25, 2009 [hillw1@dodo.com.au]. Total records = 126.

Pioneer Park Church of England cemetery is approx 80 Kms south of Sydney in the Wollongong CBD. Situated on the corner of Banks and Kembla streets Wollongong.

The Park is owned and maintained by Wollongong City Council. Pioneer Park is an old cemetery with no monuments remaining, only records. The Cemetery was used from 1838 to 1919 and by 1936 had become neglected and overgrown and is now a Rose Garden.

Extract from the Book “Pioneer Park, the Old Church of England Cemetery” Oct 1968 by A.P. Fleming “The cemetery at the north-eastern corner of Kembla and Bank Streets was consecrated by William Grant Broughton, Bishop of Sydney, on January 13, 1848. It was dedicated as a public park to be called "Pioneers' Rest Park, Wollongong," on Nov 7, 1940 by Act No. 29, Geo VI.

Interments occurred prior to consecration, probably as early as 1838, the last being in September, 1919. A.P. Fleming came to Wollongong on Sunday, August 9, 1936, a young man in search of employment. The day was perfect for late winter, crisp air with a clear blue sky. At dusk I walked along Bank Street, and coming to the old cemetery, remember yet my surprise on finding such desolation in the midst of a city, crumbling, drunken tombstones, rotting wood and rusty iron fences with two cows grazing in the long grass and weeds. Truly a place to be avoided. So, with a great deal of personal pleasure, I learned of the plans to resume the cemetery for transformation into a garden a pleasure which remains today."

Early Burials in Wollongong: The earliest reference to the alienation of land for burials appears to be a notice in The Australian of December 13, 1826. The newspaper reported about 500 acres of Glebe land has been appropriated at the Five Islands for the purpose of a burial ground. The land is situated at Cayamerne Point. Only one interment has as yet taken place in the ground. Remarkable foresight was shown in allocating the tiny settlement which was to become the City of Greater Wollongong 500 acres as a burial ground.

This area, over three-quarters of a square mile, is now occupied by the buildings south of Crown Street, i.e., about half of the inner city. Cayamerne Point with its Spanish Main overtone is no longer known but is thought to be the point on which the big lighthouse stands, officially Wollongong Head, popularly Flagstaff Point. Government decreed (1827) that funeral services at Illawarra were to be performed by the local schoolmasters who were to receive a fee of 2/6 (25c) for services on free people excepting the military. Presumably Government intended to meet the cost of deceased soldiers and convicts. (Clerical Letter Books, Vol. I, January 1, 1827. P. 63).

This attempt to record the burials in the cemetery, is based on two sources: (1) A list prepared from the headstones in 1940 by the City Council with supplementary information received in response to a public appeal and
(2) Burial Register of Saint Michael Church of England Wollongong.

Transcribed from records at Wollongong City Library.

- Wayne Hill

Anderson, Elizabeth, b. 1881, d. 12 Apr 1899, age: 18yr, daughter of James & Rose Anderson
Anderson, James, b. 1851, d. 21.09.1907, age: 56yr, husband of Rose Flanagan
Andrews, John, b. 1817, d. 9 Apr 1882, age: 65yr
Barker, John, b. 1815, d. 23 Oct 1880, age: 65yr
Barker, Margaret, b. 1803, d. 1 Mar 1892, age: 89yr, wife of John. (nee Arthur)
Bleakly, George, b. 1830, d. 27 Jan 1861, age: 31yr, husband of Margaret, Killed By a fall from a horse
Brooker, Mary Ann, b. 1772, d. 17 Dec 1859, age: 87yr
Brooker, William Willison, b. 1859, d. 19 Mar 1863, age: 4yr
Brown, Samuel Richard, b. 1855, d. Dec.1868, age: 13yr, son of John & Mary
Buckland, John, b. 1816, d. 17 Sep 1886, age: 70yr, Native of County Kent England
Buckland, Mary Ann (Organ), b. 1824, d. 16 Mar 1891, age: 67yr, wife of J Buckland, Native of County Gloucestershire England
Clarke, Florence Mary Maria, b. 1843, d. 5.05.1901, age: 58yr, wife of J W Clarke
Clarke, John William, b. 1830, d. 30 Jun 1882, age: 52yr
Clarke, Lizzie, b. 1861, d. 26 May 1896, age: 35yr, Eldest daughter of JW & MM Clarke
Coombs, Julia (Jemima J) Waldron, b. 1825, d. 22 Oct 1886, age: 61yr, daughter of Capt & Mrs Waldron, wife of Rev William Coombes
Coombs, Julia, b. 1825, d. 22 Oct 1886, age: 61yr, daughter of Capt & Mrs Waldron wife of Rev W Coombe
Dakin, Elizabeth, b. 1850, d. 18 Aug 1881, age: 31yr, wife of Trueman
Dakin, Trueman, b. 1823, d. 28 Jan 1890, age: 67yr, Native of Stockwell, Surrey, England
Dixon, Mary Ann, b. 1839, d. 24 Jul 1893, age: 54yr, wife of William
Dixon, William, b. 1835, d. 27 Oct 1900, age: 65yr, husband of Mary Ann
Earl, Maude Louisa Elizabeth, b. 1884, d. 30 Jun 1897, age: 13yr, daughter of TJ & MM Earl
Edwards, Frederick William, b. 1830, d. 28 Jul 1886, age: 56yr, Drowned Fairy Creek
Edwards, Mary Ann, b. 1822, d. 1846, age: 24yr, (see Frederick William)
Elliott, Sarah, b. 1809, d. 5 Sep 1882, age: 73yr, wife of Thomas
Elliott, Thomas, b. 1804, d. 15 Dec 1874, age: 70yr
Erdley, Mary Esther, b. 1841, d. 19 Feb 1908, age: 67yr, not on Council List
Ewing, Elizabeth, b. 1831, d. 1 Mar 1903, age: 72yr, buried beside body of her husband
Ewing, Thomas Campbell (Rev), b. 1819, d. 11 Jul 1893, age: 74yr, Reverend
Fairs, Charles, b. 1800, d. 21 Dec 1871, age: 71yr, husband of Mary
Fairs, Mary, b. 1800, d. 11 Dec 1855, age: 55yr, wife of Charles
Fetherstonhaugh, Priscilla Clerendon, b. 1845, d. 12 Jun 1888, age: 43yr, wife of William Lancaster
Francis, Morgan, b. 1852, d. 21 May 1886, age: 34yr, My Debts Are Paid, My Grave You See, Prepare Yourself. To Follow Me. Native of Slantrisant South Wales
Galloway, Jessie, b. 1813, d. 19 Jan 1844, age: 31yr, wife of John, Windsor
Gordon, Frances Henrietta, b. 1839, d. 16 Sep 1861, age: 22yr, daughter of Henry, J.P.
Gordon, Frances, b. 1818, d. 6 Jun 1860, age: 42yr, wife of Henry, J.P.
Gordon, George Edward, b. 1898, d. 29 Mar 1898, age: 21dyr, Infant son of George & Elizabeth
Gordon, Henry William, b. 1843, d. 13 Apr 1862, age: 19yr, son of Henry, J.P.
Gordon, Henry, b. 1808, d. 18 Jun 1873, age: 65yr, husband of Frances
Gordon, Mary Constance, b. 1845, d. 4 May 1862, age: 17yr, daughter of Henry, J.P.
Grover, Catherine, b. 1805, d. 20 Sep 1834, age: 29yr, wife of Montagu
Harris, Eliza Harriet, b. 1812, d. 8 Dec 1837, age: 25yr
Hartrick, William Henry, b. 1815, d. 14 Oct 1853, age: 38yr
Henry, Arthur John , b. 1886, d. 22 Mar 1887, age: 5mo
Henry, Elizabeth, b. 1888, d. 29 Sep 1889, age: 1y 8mo, daughter of John & Sarah
Hobbs, William, b. 1811, d. 8 Apr 1871, age: 60yr, Dapto StoreKeeper
Jackson, Peter, b. 1786, d. 15 Jun 1838, age: 52yr, of Edinburgh Scotland
Jenkins, Charles Matcham, b. 25 Nov 1850, d. 4 Jan 1852, age: 13m 11dyr, child of William W & Matilda P Jenkins of Berkeley
Jenkins, Esther Ada, b. 12 Jan 1853, d. 4 May 1853, age: 4mo, child of William W & Matilda P Jenkins of Berkeley
Jones, Florence Jackson, b. 1880, d. 29 Dec 1882, age: 2y8mo, daughter of Edward & Francis Jones
Jones, Gertrude Clarissa, b. 1871, d. 28 Jan 1873, age: 17mo, daughter of Edward & Francis Jones
Jones, Herbert Riversdale, b. 1861, d. 2 Jan 1865, age: 3y 3mo, son of Edward & Francis Jones
Kenning, Robert Thompson, b. 1873, d. 4 Oct 1888, age: 15y 4mo, son of William & Mary Kenning. Lost His Life at Mt. Keira Mine
MacCabe, F P, b. 1862, d. 21 Feb 1896, age: 34yr, of Russell Vale Illawarra NSW, died at Cue West Australia
MacCabe, Francis P, b. 1879, d. 8 Jul 1879, age: 5mo, of Russell Vale Illawarra NSW
MacGillycuddy, Agnes Halvon Montague, b. 1860, d. 19 Mar 1900, age: 40yr, in the Gordon Grave
Makin, Arthur Eric, b. 1896, d. 12 Feb 1897, age: 3mo
Makin, Ellen S Bolton, b. c1811, d. 1890, age: 79yr, wife of William Samuel Makin
Makin, Ethel Maud, b. 1875, d. 21 May 1875, age: 6mo, daughter of Joseph & Rebecca
Makin, Ethel Maud, b. 1884, d. 20 Dec 1884, age: 10mo, daughter of Joseph & Rebecca
Makin, Frederick Edwin, b. 1860, d. 1877, age: 17yr, son of W.S. & E Makin
Makin, Herbert Henry, b. 1897, d. 16 Jul 1897, age: 5wyr
Makin, Robert Joseph, b. 1880, d. 19 Oct 1880, age: 2mo
Makin, William Samuel, b. 1803, d. 18 Jan 1887, age: 84yr, of London
Marr, Annie Elizabeth, b. 1857, d. 1 Feb 1859, age: 2yr, 2nd child of HJ & FN Marr
Marr, Fanny Newnham, b. 1833, d. 15 Dec 1865, age: 32yr, wife of H J Marr
Marr, Fanny, b. 1865, d. 6 Jun 1866, age: 7mo, 7th child of HJ & FN Marr
Marr, Henry James, b. 1829, d. 14 Jul 1875, age: 46yr
Massey, C, b. 1869, d. 3 Oct 1884, age: 15yr
Massey, Clara Mary, b. 1869, d. 2 Oct 1884, age: 16yr
Massey, John, b. 1821, d. 22 Dec 1882, age: 61yr
Massey, Mary, b. 1842, d. 19 Feb 1909, age: 67yr, wife of John
Massey, Samuel ?, no dates
McDonald, Dora, b. 1889, d. 16 Mar 1889, age: 2mo, daughter of Will & Alice McDonald
Mettan, Ann, b. 1830, d. 27 Sep 1887, age: 57yr
Organ, Elias, b. 1786, d. 24 Nov 1866, age: 80yr
Organ, Elizabeth, b. 1783, d. 1 Aug 1869, age: 86yr, wife of Elias Organ
Osborne, Alick, b. 1821, d. 4 Oct 1842, age: 21yr, son of Alick Osborne
Osborne, Anne, b. 1792, d. 15 Oct 1853, age: 61yr, wife of Alick Osborne, M.L.C. Surgeon R.N.
Osborne, John, b. 1791, d. 6 Jun 1850, age: 59yr, Surgeon. R.N.
Osborne, Mary, b. 1795, d. 28 Dec 1858, age: 63yr, wife of John Osborne
Osborne, William, b. 1822, d. 5 Jun 1900, age: 78yr
Parsons, Joseph, b. 1820, d. 19 Aug 1904, age: 84yr, husband of Louisa
Parsons, Louisa Ann, b. 7 Jul 1817, d. 5 Sep 1898, age: 81yr, wife of Joseph
Parsons, William, b. 1884, d. 19 Sep 1919, age: 35yr, Last Recorded Burial
Pinchin, Elizabeth, b. 1815, d. 15 Feb 1890, age: 75yr, Relic of George
Pinchin, George, b. 1812, d. 20 Nov 1876, age: 64yr, F/o Mary Helen & Percival
Pinchin, Mary Ellen, b. 1841, d. 23 Sep 1853, age: 12yr, 2nd daughter of G & E Pinchin
Pinchin, Percival, b. 1855, d. 31 May 1873, age: 17y 8mo, son of G & E Pinchin
Pratt, John Charles, b. 25 Feb 1854, d. 21 May 1856, age: 2yr, born Beulah Near Sydney, Only child of P Pratt
Pratt, Percy, b. 18 Jul 1819, d. 17 Aug 1854, age: 35yr, born Bells Hell Northumberland, England
Rae, Margaret, b. 1823, d. 13 Jan 1886, age: 63yr
Rothwell, Mary, b. 1824, d. 6 Sep 1902, age: 78yr
Searle, Mary Ann, b. 1840, d. 19 Oct 1871, age: 31yr, wife of Edward daughter of WS & E Makin
Serle, Edwin, b. 1834, d. 8 Jun 1887, age: 53yr, husband of Mary Ann Searle
Simpson, Mabel Margaret, b. 1881, d. 19 Jan 1882, age: 9mo, Given name as Isabel Margaret Matilda
Simpson, Malvina Marina Mary, b. 1903, d. 19.02.1905, age: 2y 5mo, daughter of W & I Simpson
Simpson, William, b. , d. 1863, age: yr
Smith, Charles Frederick, b. 1833, d. 25 Oct 1915, age: 82yr
Smith, Charles Frederick, b. 1863, d. 25 Oct 1874, age: 11yr, eldest son of Carles F & Maria E Smith
Smith, Charles Throsby, b. 1798, d. 25 Sep 1876, age: 78yr, remains Interred in Family Vault of Charles Throsby Smith. son of Joshua & Martha
Smith, Isabella Campbell, b. 1804, d. 31 Jul 1865, age: 61yr, second wife of Charles Throsby Smith. Remains Interred in Family Vault of Charles Throsby Smith. daughter of Will & Isabella
Smith, Maria Elizabeth, b. 1837, d. 27 Jul 1899, age: 62yr, wife of CF Smith
Smith, Sarah, b. 14 Sep 1799, d. 26 Dec 1838, age: 39yr, wife of CT Smith, remains interred in family vault of Charles Throsby Smith
Smith, Walter Stewart, b. 1843, d. 1 Sep 1853, age: 10yr, son of Isabella & CT Smith. remains Interred in Family Vault of Charles Throsby Smith
Smith, William, b. 1839, d. 21 Aug 1875, age: 36yr, late Master of Public School Wollongong, son of William & Elizabeth
Squires, Walter James, b. 1864, d. 16 Mar 1886, age: 22yr
Thomas, William Smith (Dr), b. 1835, d. 13 Oct 1880, age: 45yr, Surgeon, son of James & Ann
Townsend, Christina Irene, b. 1902, d. 5 Mar 1902, age: 21dyr
Townsend, Thomas, b. 1808, d. 25 Jul 1858, age: 50yr, son of John & Christiana
Waldron, Arthur Edward, b. 1866, d. 9 May 1867, age: 1yr, child of H K Waldron & Eliza
Waldron, Charles Vaughan, b. 1822, d. 4 Sep 1892, age: 70yr
Waldron, Charles, b. , d. 19.06.1847, age: infant
Waldron, Charles, b. 1781, d. 28 Jan 1834, age: 53yr, late Capt. 39th Reg
Waldron, Eliza Jane, b. 1832, d. 28 Mar 1914, age: 82yr, wife of H K Waldron
Waldron, Eliza Jane, b. 1860, d. 19 Apr 1861, age: 1yr, child of H K Waldron & Eliza
Waldron, Francis Charles, b. 1808, d. 19.06.1847, age: 39yr, Late Lieut. H.M. 30th Reg Foot. son of Capt. Charles Waldron
Waldron, Frederick King, b. 1848, d. 26 Apr 1864, age: 15yr, son of Charles V & Jane
Waldron, Herbert James, b. 1870, d. 29 May 1887, age: 17yr, son of Hubert K. & Eliza J
Waldron, Hubert Kelly, b. 1821, d. 18 Jan 1875, age: 54yr, husband of Eliza Jane. son of Charles & Jemima
Waldron, Jane (Elliott), b. 1828, d. 6 Aug 1901, age: 73yr, wife of Charles
Waldron, Jemima, b. 1788, d. 19 Jun 1872, age: 84yr, Widow of Late Capt Waldron
Weeks, Elizabeth, b. 1860, d. 30 Aug 1887, age: 27yr, daughter of William & Mary A Dixon
Weeks, Thomas, b. 1885, d. 9 Aug 1887, age: 2y 2mo, Grandson of W & M Dixon, son of William & Elizabeth
Wilson, George, b. 1803, d. 18 Jul 1886, age: 83yr, F/O Henry Wilson
Wilson, Henry, b. 1851, d. 12 Dec 1885, age: 34yr, son of George & Hannah
Ziems, Julius, b. 1840, d. 14 Aug 1897, age: 57yr, husband of Mary Ann

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