PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERY
PORT FAIRY, MOYNE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERY - History
The Port Fairy New Cemetery or "Beach Cemetery" was established in 1849 at the request of Superintendent of Port Phillip District, Charles Joseph LaTrobe, on a section of land among the sand dunes on the coast road from Port Fairy to Portland. Surveyor Alexander John Skene selected the land on the Portland coast road and laid out the plan of the cemetery.
The cemetery was officially in operation for 40 years and may have contained up to 200 burials, the majority of which date from the 1850s to 1860s. By the mid to late 1880s, proposals were put forward to officially close the Port Fairy New Cemetery. On 23rd May 1887, the Governor in Council approved the "discontinuance of burials" and this was gazetted on 27th May 1887.
Following the closure of the New Cemetery, many burials and headstones were removed and relocated to Port Fairy Old Cemetery.
PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERY - Interpretation of Site
The dunes within the site appear to have shifted since the mid-nineteenth century and some graves and headstones are possibly buried. There does not seem to be any erosion evident. Sand movement across the site would have been stabilised with the introduction of marin grass which now covers the site. There are signs of vandalism on Connolly's headstone, which suggests that some markers may have been destroyed and/or removed. The very thick vegetation most likely obscures more grave markers that have fallen over.
PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERY - Archaeological Significance
Though an unknown number of the approximately 200 burials were removed, there are at least six burials remaining. The archaeological significance of the site relates to what information can be obtained from the grave markers both from their inscriptions and the quality of the marker. These graves are associated with the pioneers of the area. Human remains within the burials are also of archaeological significance in that much could be learnt about the life, health and diet of the early pioneers of the area.
PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERY - Historical Significance
The cemetery contains the remains of the earliest settlers of Port Fairy and district and is one of the earliest formal European cemeteries of Victoria.
Heritage Inventory Description
PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERY - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is situated within heavily vegetated sand dunes. There is a sign board on the south eastern boundary of the site on top of the sand dune.Those burials that are visible include comprise six headstones and an iron fence surrounding a grave, and are facing east. On the western side of the cemetery is what appears to be the remains of a north-south bluestone boundary wall.This corresponds with the gazetted boundary. Signs of boundary markers were also observed in the south western and south eastern corners. A recently erected timber post and wire fence surrounds the site on the western, northern and eastern sites, and appears to follow the gazetted boundary.
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PORT FAIRY NEW CEMETERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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