The overgrown and neglected Garrawarra Cemetery. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
By MICK ROBERTS.
THE northern Illawarra’s forgotten cemetery has finally been remembered. Up to 2,000 burials – mainly deaths as a result of consumption – were made at Garrawarra Cemetery between 1909 and the mid-1950s.
Located in what could be described as an almost mystical bushland setting, north of the Garrawarra Hospital – a purpose-built tuberculosis facility established in the early 1900s – Wollongong City Council has made a commitment to preserve the historic site.
Council has been responsible for the cemetery since 1967 when management was transferred from the State Government. At the same time Council took over the management of Wollongong, Bulli, Scarborough and Helensburgh general cemeteries from the government.
Bush has encroached on the cemetery, damaging headstones.
Council says due to the complexity of the site and its surrounds, there has been confusion over the ownership and management responsibilities for the cemetery. The site is landlocked by Crown land managed by various state government departments.
Council last night voted to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for the cemetery, as well as finding access options.
Council will also develop a publicly available burial register for the site and consider the development of a ‘Friends of the Cemetery’ group.
History redisovered at Garrawarra.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage will be contacted by Council, offering support to their consideration to include the Garrawarra Hospital site, including the cemetery, for listing on the State Heritage Register.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said people who have family buried in the cemetery will be contacted by Council.
“This is an intriguing situation and we’re asking for the community’s patience as we look into a viable solution for this site,” he said.
“We understand people might be interested to go out and visit the cemetery and we would ask them to hold off. It is in a difficult, isolated location with access only along fire trails. Even Council staff must get permission from state government agencies to visit the site.
“Council wants to work with the community to see this site restored and we will keep the community informed throughout the process.’’
People who want to register family they know are buried in the cemetery can call (02) 4227 7111.
What about Sherbrooke cemetary?
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Posted by Michael Jones | September 15, 2012, 9:06 amAlthough there was land dedicated for a cemetery at Sherbrooke, official records state that there were no burials there. Saying that though, there is some talk that a baby was buried in the cemetery.
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Posted by The Bulli Times | September 15, 2012, 9:51 am