First burial - John Burnett |
With the first Trust appointed in 1852, the cemetery was officially gazetted to function in June 1853. However, the first burial took place on the 28th May 1853 when John Alexander Burnett, aged 36, a colonial merchant with the pastoral firm Dalgety & Co., was laid to rest in the Church of England section of the cemetery.
The early burial was permitted as influential people were concerned about the over crowded state of the original Melbourne Cemetery. What better way to open the new site than by interring a leading and influential community member. |
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