Historical Graveyard

ST. ANDREW’S HISTORIC GRAVEYARD

This Graveyard, located behind the main church, is on part of the original 10 acres of land conveyed by Henry Dendy, Robert Deane, Robert Dunsford, Jonathon B. Were and George Were to Bishop Broughton for use of the Church of England, and consecrated by him in 1843.

Parish records reveal more than 300 burials, most before 1860. Only 44 headstones remain. The first interment (9th November 1844) was that of Henry Head, a child of only 18 months, who died of ‘accidental burns’. The abutting Garden of Remembrance was constructed in the early 1950’s and is used regularly for interments.

Historical significance
St. Andrew’s Graveyard is important as a rare surviving example of a suburban churchyard in this State. The Graveyard rates an “A” classification in Bayside Heritage Review 1986. In 2001 the Graveyard was classified by the National Trust and since that time all donations toward restoration have been tax deductible.

Prominent people in the Graveyard
Among the most notable people buried is Jonathon Binns Were. He was prominent in business and public life during the early years and founded the first stock exchange of Melbourne and was the inaugural chairman of J.B. Were & Son. Other important people include William Adams Brodribb – pastoralist and politician; Thomas Higinbotham – engineer and civil servant who became engineer-in-chief of the Victorian Railways; and Henry Boorn Foot – Surveyor, who helped plan Brighton in its early stages.

Restoration of the Graveyard
Quite a substantial amount of work has already been undertaken since the conservation project commenced in1999 following the successful application for Federation Funding from the Federal Government and the receipt of numerous donations. Generous support from Heritage Victoria enabled both a Conservation Management Plan and a Landscape Plan to be put in place.
Cathedral Stone was engaged and completed work on all graves along the Western boundary of the Graveyard – and included in the work, to repair and clean monuments and fabricate new ironwork to replace missing pieces.

Planning is in place for the next phase of the project.

A number of on-site education programs have been arranged for local schools.
Historic tours of the Graveyard can be arranged by making enquiries at the Parish Office.