White Hill Cemetery

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From the Bendigo Cemetery Trust website.

White Hills Public Cemetery Corner of Holdsworth Road and Plumridge Street, White Hills

The White Hills Cemetery was originally known as the Junction Cemetery. In 1854 it was officially opened, however it had to be used as a cemetery well before this date. Once gold was discovered at the seven White Hills, the area was inundated with optimistic diggers. Locals within the White Hills area, including the Chinese from the Chinese settlement then claimed the site as a cemetery to bury their dead. The initial burials took place without registration, therefore the first person buried at the White Hills Cemetery is not known. The earliest recognised grave at present is that of Gustave Alphonse Eugere Vazie who died in November 1853, aged 19 months. Features of the White Hills Cemetery include: The original entrance pillars and gates designed by Vahland; a unique Victorian style rotunda; Chinese graves believed to be of world significance; a monument erected to the memory of Robert (Pump Handle) Benson; and the largest monument in the cemetery - Major Robert Moorehead of the Prince of Wales Light Horse.

The White Hills Public Cemetery is one of several cemeteries in the Bendigo urban area. It is regarded as significant because it is a substantially intact example of a mid nineteenth century gold-fields cemetery. The cemetery lies in a picturesque setting of curved pathways and has a number of significant and rare plantings.

It features are important as they are typically representive of nineteenth century cemeteries. Structures such as the Chinese Burning Tower, the Entrance Gates, the Rotunda and indeed many of the headstones and footstones are worthy of inspection. The original cemetery was about ten acres but today comprises some twenty four acres.

Barry Graham Frankston, Vic.