NORTHCOTE CEMETERY
143 Separation Street, NORTHCOTE VIC 3070
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
Northcote Cemetery was established in 1861 when Peter Macarthur sold one acre of his land on the north side of the street to members of the local German community that had settled in the area. They were a close-knit community who wanted to preserve their national identity in their new country. The earliest burials occurred in the 1860s. The cemetery was regularly used until about 1940. The last burial was in 1971. The site is in a reasonable condition due to recent works undertaken by Northcote Council after 1992. However, recent garden modifications, restoration works, and security for the site have compromised the integrity of the place. .
The graves, the Italian Cypresses and the early gates within the cemetery are significant.
Later additions, including the fences, gates other than those identified as significant above, recent plantings and landscaping works conducted since 1992 are not significant.
How is it significant?
Northcote Cemetery is of local historic significance to the City of Darebin.
Why is it significant?
Historically, Northcote Cemetery is significant as important and rare surviving evidence of Northcote's early German community. It is also unusual as a small burial ground in close proximity to the heart of the city. The Italian Cypress within the Northcote Cemetery has significance as a representative example of the type of plantings found in cemeteries of this period. (RNE criteria A.4, B.2, D.2)
-
-
NORTHCOTE CEMETERY - Physical Description 1
Northcote Cemetery is location in Separation Street, Northcote, between two neighbouring residential blocks. The site backs onto All Nations Park, formerly the local rubbish tip after its use as a quarry was exhausted.
The Separation Street (south) and All Nations Park (south) boundaries are defined by a new fence of brick base and piers and steel palisade. New steel gates and secure the site. Lettering spans the arched top of the gates, identifying the site as 'NORTHCOTE CEMETERY'. (One pair of earlier metal gates was observed on site in 2007, propped against a fence within the site; also with lettering spanning the arched top, possibly 'NORTHCOTE CEMETERY'.) The side boundaries are defined by adjacent property boundaries, and comprise a mix of timber paling, corrugated iron, party wall sections.
The cemetery is arranged around what appears to be a central axis, from Separation Street to the rear boundary. Many early graves remain erect within the site. Many are oriented to face east.
Few early plantings remain on site with the exception of one Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) on the east side of the central rear gate.
The space between the graves is well grassed. Recent landscaping works have enclosed the graves with low brick walls. Recent plantings include Box (Buxus sp.), bulbs, and lavender. The graves are laid with a readily available bark mulch.
As a result of recent works, the cemetery is in a good to stable condition. However, a 1992 study of the cemetery reported that many of the marble slabs had been smashed, gravestones knocked over, and iron railings bent. Access was not possible to the cemetery during field work for this study. The 1992 study by the National Trust notes that the earliest grave dates from 1876.
However, recent garden modifications, restoration works, and security for the site have compromised the integrity of the place. A number of original and early elements may have been lost to the vandalism reported in the 1992 study.
Heritage Study and Grading
Darebin - Darebin Heritage Study
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2011
Grading: Local
-
-
-
-
-
FORMER NORTHCOTE THEATREVictorian Heritage Register H2287
-
BASTING STREET HOUSESVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
SHANNON INNVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
'CARINYA' LADSONS STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0568
-
1 Alexander StreetYarra City
-
1 Botherambo StreetYarra City
-
-