History

The Echuca Cemetery dates from 1860 and remembers many early settlers and founding residents of the local community. The Cemetery was established on one of the few sandy hills in Echuca in the form of a circle to allow easy access for horses and carts. The Cemetery Trust is very mindful of the great responsibility entrusted to it in helping to preserve the local history.

The Echuca Cemetery was gazetted in 1860 (with six Cemetery Trustees appointed on 25 June 1860) and the first official burial took place on 31st July 1860, however unofficial burials took place between 1853 when the land was first surveyed for a cemetery and when it was officially gazetted. Since then more than 14,000 burials have taken place. The original 10 acres of land gazetted as a cemetery was added to in 1875 with a further 5 acres of land added between the original area and Homan Street, and the entrance moved to Homan Street. (Compiled with assistance of Echuca Historical Society)

Information about each section of the cemetery can be found on the cemetery map page.

Between 1860 and 1900, 4 of every 5 burials was a child under the age of 13 years old, many of them in unmarked graves. There are over 400 babies and children who do not have a Victorian birth or death certificate – the only recorded location that they ever lived is the record in the cemetery register.

The cemetery gates hold a history all of their own. The double wrought and cast iron gates were constructed in 1893 at a cost of £5,000. Manufactured by Humble and Nicholson from Geelong, the gates have two pedestrian and four cast iron pillars. Deep chamfered shafts and castellated tops follow the style of other contemporary cemetery gates.

Like many cemeteries, the original layout was predominately based on religious denominations with the original entry via Jarman Street, however the cemetery also has sections for Chinese, children, aboriginal dreamtime, and paupers. The oldest part of the cemetery and the most prominent feature of the early cemetery is the section known as ‘The Circle’.

Photo looking towards the area known as ‘The Circle’.

The plan below shows ‘Cemetery Reserve’ on the left hand side next to Warren Street.

Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV): VPRS 8168/P0002, RAIL25A; ECHUCA; Railway Department Victoria, 12 June 1860