Cemetery at Leichhardt

There is a park in Norton Street, Leichhardt, not far from the Town Hall, which was the site of an old cemetery. I used to live-work near there when I was young and stupid in the late 1960's. There must have been a plaque-sign-whatever regarding the park's previous life because I don't recall any headstones. But perhaps I wasn't looking.

This may be the cemetery you are referring to, or could be another one. I also seem to recall a small cemetery, with headstones intact, located next to a school. Or was that too much red wine?

I used to frequent old cemeteries when I was younger. I looked on them as sort of urban wilderness areas - reptiles and birds abounded and roses bloomed with enthusiasm. Before North Sydney council got at St Thomas', there was an enormous mulberry tree growing there. The tree itself would have had historical value - but sadly it went, along with most of the headstones. I guess it didn't have a street named after it.

Gore Hill Cemetery was a magical place of fading Victorian splendour. Brick paths and edgings, hedges, plantings of conifers and other trees with dark funereal looking leaves, and roses, roses, roses. When it was threatened (usual plan - save the 'worthwhile' headstones, bury the rest and turn it into a park) I joined the Friends of Gore Hill Cemetery, but then left hurriedly when the Friends turned their attention to "cleaning" it up, the plan being to remove anything that got in the way of a lawnmower.

40 years on and I visit cemeteries for different reasons - these days I actually know some older people - but it really saddens me that the blue tongues and I have nowhere left to hide. If someone plants me in a lawn cemetery, I'll come back and haunt them.

Barbara