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                                  Where is the Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery?
                                                  Melway reference 45 F5
       Located in Kew, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 

                                      Latitude -37.81667   Longitude 145.03333

The historic Boroondara General Cemetery - better known as the Kew Cemetery - began its life in 1855 when 31 acres of land was reserved in High Street Kew.  It is one of Victoria's oldest cemeteries and home to more than 75,000 graves.  Amongst those interred, the cemetery has a rich history of pioneers, early settlers, politicians, artists, historians, community leaders, educators and many others who came from the local area.  Boroondara is an aboriginal word meaning 'a place of shade'. This aptly describes the beautiful gardens that form part of the cemetery.
                                                    ............  for more information, see the chronology below 

The Cemetery has been Heritage listed    
http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic#detail_places;6021
(as @ Nov 2009)


             The Springthorpe Memorial was built between 1897 and 1907
        Heritage Victoria listing  - B3 Springthorpe Memorial (VHR H0522)

Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery - chronological history
1855   12.5 hectares (31 acres) of land reserved for a cemetery
1858   Appointment of first Boroondara Cemetery Trustees
1859   Trustees commissioned Frederick Acheson, a civil engineer in the Public Lands Office to draw up plans of grounds, gates and fencing.
1859   First burial, that of Ellen Quick (nee Derrick)
1860   First building erected, a two-roomed brick cottage designed by Charles Vickers, built by George Saunders.
1861   J.J. Higgins laid out grounds
1864   Architect and surveyor to the Melbourne General Cemetery, Albert Purchas joined Trust and is credited with much of the botanic ornamentation and landscaping.
1876   29 September, gezettal of 12.5 Hectares (31 acres 1 rood 0 perches)
1877-8  Shelter erected to design of J. Beauchamp, as a result of a competition, later demolished for the Springthorpe Memorial.
1889   Cast iron entrance gates designed by Albert Purchas.
1890   Rotunda built by D. Dootson, designed possibly by Albert Purchas (replica of shelta constructed in Melbourne General Cemetery in 1890).
1895-6  2.7 metre high ornamental brick fence erected to design by Albert Purchas
1866-99  Additions to first building, all designed by Albert Purchas, assisted in 1899 by his son, Claude - office (1866), kitchen (1869), bedroom (1873). wash-house (1875), bedroom (1881), bathroom (1889), additional room (1893), second story, boardroom, clock tower and ministers' waiting room (1899).
1887/1915 Terminus of horse tram located at cemetery gates.
1899/1907  Construction of Springthorpe Memorial to design by architect, Harold Desbrowe Annear with Dr. Springthorpe, sculpture by Bertram Mackennal, landscape design by W. R. Guilfoyle.
2001 Peace Haven Mausoleum built by the Boroondara Cemetery Trust to cater for the needs of those who prefer above ground burial
2009  150th Anniversary on the 12th March
2011 110th Anniversary of the opening of the Springthorpe memorial
                                                             Source:   www.kewcemetery.com.au


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                                                        WEB LINKS
Any links shown on this web site to other web sites are provided for your interest only and Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery Inc. have no control over such sites and thus no responsibility or liability for their content; nor do links to other sites imply any endorsement of their content.


Boroondara General Cemetery (Kew)    www.kewcemetery.com.au


Friends of Cheltenham & Regional Cemeteries Inc.    www.focrc.org


The Brighton Cemetorians Inc               www.brightoncemetorians.org/      
Brighton General Cemetery


Friends of St Kilda Cemetery Inc.          www.foskc.org/


Helen Harris OAM - Melbourne General Cemetery  Tours
                                                     http://members.ozemail.com.au/~hdharris/cemetery.html
 
Mays Hill Cemetery (NSW)               http://www.mayshillcemetery.org/


Bendigo Cemeteries Trust        
www.bencemtrust.com.au                                                           


Other Historical Societies in the Eastern Region


Balwyn Historical Society  
Box Hill Historical Society 
Kew Historical Society      
Malvern Historical Society 
Waverly Historical Society    http://home.vicnet.net.au/~whsvic/

Keilor Cemetery Research Project    (contact Chris Laskowski) 
                                                      http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/keilorce/web/index.html

                                                              OVERSEAS
National Federation of Cemetery Friends UK
www.cemeteryfriends.org.uk/index.html

 
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