Box Hill Cemetery is a cemetery located in Melbourne's eastern suburb of
Box Hill, Victoria
Box Hill is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of the city's Central Business District (CBD), located within the City of Whitehorse local government area. Box Hill recorded a population of 14,353 at the 2021 census.
Founded as ...
in Australia. It currently occupies 12.5 ha (31 acres). It is known as the resting place of notable figures from
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
and its heritage-registered
Columbarium
A columbarium (; pl. columbaria) is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage of funerary urns, holding cremated remains of the deceased.
The term can also mean the nesting boxes of pigeons. The term comes from the Latin "'' colu ...
and Myer Memorial.
[ Around 50,000 decedents have been interred since the cemetery was gazetted and commenced operations in 1873. The original 10-acre site was extended in 1886 and again in 1935.]
Architecture
The Myer memorial was designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memori ...
in association with local architects Yuncken, Freeman, Freeman & Griffiths.[ The columbarian, a brick building in the style of a ]Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
church was designed by architects Rodney Alsop and A. Bramwell Smith and constructed in 1929.[
]
History of Box Hill Cemetery
The first moves to establish a public cemetery at Box Hill, east of Melbourne, were made in 1872 when an area of twelve acres was set aside and eight trustees were appointed at a public meeting. A grant of £35 was received from the Government of the day for the erection of a fence around the site. The area was part of a large reserve bounded on two sides by Whitehorse Road and Britnells Road (now Middleborough Road) from which the Sagoe Common School and police paddock had been excised.
The first burial took place the day after the cemetery was officially gazetted on 30 August 1873. Prior to this, burials took place on land surrounding the nearby United Methodist Church and in the small Lutheran cemetery established at Waldau (Doncaster) in 1860. Public cemeteries had also been established at Kew and Burwood.
Box Hill Cemetery was enlarged on two occasions in subsequent years. A small adjoining section, still referred to as the 'New Survey', was gazetted in 1886, following the extension of the railway line from Box Hill to Lilydale. In 1935 a further adjoining area of twelve acres was purchased by the Box Hill Council to bring the cemetery to its present size of ≈12.5 hectares (30.8 acres). Part of this area included the police paddock.
From 1875 until 1973, the main entrance to the cemetery was from Whitehorse Road by way of an attractive avenue. The fine entrance gates and pillars to this approach still stand today, but they are no longer part of the cemetery. The present entrance from Middleborough Road was established in 1973 to eliminate the need for funeral traffic to cross the railway line and the Whitehorse Road entrance avenue was passed over to the then City of Box Hill in 1979.
Two notable features within the cemetery are the large lych-gate or commemorative arch built in 1923 to mark the 50th anniversary of the cemetery; and the columbarium built in 1929 as a repository for cremated remains. Designed by architects Rodney Alsop and A. Bramwell Smith and built by T. F. Crabbe, this building is in the form of a Greek cross; it has a Spanish-tiled gable roof and octagonal tower with a copper dome. While the exterior appearance has a distinctive Mediterranean flavour, the proportions of the exterior are Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
. This building is now included on the register of Heritage Victoria.
Another interesting item is the large iron bell hanging over the entrance to the current office. Cast in Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
, England in 1886, the bell originally served the Box Hill Fire Brigade at its previous Watts Street premises where it was used to call-out volunteer fire-fighters to emergencies over many years. In 1927, the Brigades Board presented the bell to the Box Hill Cemetery where it is rung each evening around 5:00 pm as a signal to cemetery visitors that the gates are soon to close.
With few remaining new burial sites available, the first stage of a community mausoleum was constructed in 2002 to provide 130 crypt spaces on five levels. Crypts are faced with shutters of imported granite and distinctive architectural features include wide verandahs on all sides supported by brick and rendered pillars in Californian Bungalow style. A second stage, offering a further 216 crypts on six levels was built in the same style in 2005. The first stage was designed by Brearley Architects and Urban Designers and the subsequent stage by GHD. Both buildings were constructed by Milne-Miller Constructions. The complex was officially opened by the Hon. Daniel Andrews (then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health) on 20 November 2005.
A third stage of the community mausoleum was also designed by GHD and built by Milne-Miller Constructions in 2012, to provide a further 270 crypt spaces.
A range of themed historical walking tours of the cemetery (visiting various famous graves) are periodically conducted by members of Box Hill Historical Society. For further information on these tours is available from the Box Hill Historical Society.
Records Search
Box Hill Cemetery record searches for genealogical or any other purpose may be conducted through the cemetery website www.boxhillcemetery.com.au at any time, by simply selecting the 'Find a Grave or Memorial' function. A map of the selected site and surrounding area may also be printed to help visitors find specific graves and memorials.
Notable Interments
*Dame Jacobena Angliss, philanthropist
*Sir William Angliss
Sir William Charles Angliss (29 January 1865 – 15 June 1957) was a butcher, pastoralist, pioneering meat exporter, businessman, and politician in Melbourne, Australia.
Biography
He was the eldest son of William Angliss, tailor, and his wif ...
, businessman, politician and philanthropist
* Robert Beckett, politician
*Maurice Blackburn
Maurice McCrae Blackburn (19 November 1880 – 31 March 1944) was an Australian politician and socialist lawyer, noted for his protection of the interests of workers and the establishment of the legal firm known as Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
...
, politician and lawyer
*Edouard Borovansky
Edouard Borovansky (24 February 1902 – 18 December 1959) was a Czech-born Australian ballet dancer, choreographer and director. After touring with Anna Pavlova's company, he and his wife, Xenia, settled in Australia where they established the ...
, ballet dancer, choreographer and director
* Cyril P. Callister, inventor of Vegemite
Vegemite ( ) is a thick, dark brown Australian food spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives. It was developed by Cyril Callister in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1922.
A spread for sandwiches, ...
*Sir Ian Clunies Ross
Sir William Ian Clunies Ross CMG (22 February 189920 June 1959) was an Australian veterinary scientist. He has been described as the 'architect' of Australia's scientific boom, for his stewardship of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial ...
, chairman of the CSIRO
*Sir George James Coles, owner of Coles Supermarkets
* C.J. Dennis, poet[
*]Joy Hester
Joy St Clair Hester (21 August 1920 – 4 December 1960) was an Australian artist. She was a member of the Angry Penguins movement and the Heide Circle who played an integral role in the development of Australian Modernism. Hester is best known ...
, artist[
*Sir ]John Higgins
John Higgins, (born 18 May 1975) is a Scottish professional snooker player. He has won 31 career ranking titles, placing him in third position on the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind Ronnie O'Sullivan (39) and Stephen Hendry ( ...
, businessman and metallurgist
* Frank Hyett, politician
*Nellie Constance Martyn
Nellie Constance Martyn (12 June 1887 – 28 November 1926) was an Australian businesswoman who became managing director of Steel Company of Australia on her father's death. She was also a strong advocate for women and office bearer of a number ...
, businesswoman
*Sir George McBeath, businessman
*James Whiteside McCay
Lieutenant General Sir James Whiteside McCay, (21 December 1864 – 1 October 1930), who often spelt his surname M'Cay, was an Australian general and politician.
A graduate of the University of Melbourne, where he earned Master of Arts an ...
, general and politician
* James Menzies, politician, father of Sir Robert Menzies
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
*Ken Myer
Kenneth Baillieu Myer, (1 March 1921 – 30 July 1992) was an American-born Australian patron of the arts, humanities and sciences; diplomat, administrator, businessman and philanthropist. He was a member of the notable Melbourne retailing Mye ...
, businessman and philanthropist
*Dame Merlyn Myer
Dame Margery Merlyn Myer (; 8 January 19003 September 1982) was an Australian philanthropist, who was notable for her charitable work.
Birth and marriage
Born as Margery Merlyn Baillieu in Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia, to George Franci ...
, philanthropist
*Sidney Myer
Sidney Myer (born Simcha Myer Baevski (); 8 February 18785 September 1934) was a Russian-born Jewish-Australian businessman and philanthropist, best known for founding Myer, Australia's largest chain of department stores.
Early life
Myer was ...
, businessman and philanthropist, founder of Myer
Myer (stylised MYER, sometimes known as Myers) is an Australia, Australian mid-range to upscale department store chain. It trades in all Australian states and one of Australia's two self-governing territories. Myer retails a broad range of ...
[
* Frank O'Connor, Secretary of the ]Department of Supply
The Department of Supply was an Australian government department that existed between March 1950 and June 1974.
History
Established in 1950, the Department of Supply headquarters transferred to Canberra in January 1968.
In 1964 the ...
in the 1950s
* Samuel Pethebridge, politician and soldier, Secretary of Australian Department of Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to:
Current departments of defence
* Department of Defence (Australia)
* Department of National Defence (Canada)
* Department of Defence (Ireland)
* Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
in World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
[PETHEBRIDGE, Sir SAMUEL AUGUSTUS]
CWGC Casualty Record.
* Lillian Pyke, children's author and novelist
* Harold Crofton Sleigh, merchant and ship-owner[
* Jane Sutherland, artist]
* George Tallis, theatrical entrepreneur
War Graves
The cemetery contains the war graves of 67 Commonwealth service personnel. There are 16 from World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, highest ranking being Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Pethebridge, who died in January 1918, and 51 from World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.[BOX HILL GENERAL CEMETERY]
CWGC Cemetery Report.
Box Hill Cemetery Trust
Box Hill Cemetery is governed by a dedicated Trust, which has continued since 1873. The Trust is a statutory board, responsible to the Government of Victoria for strategic oversight and on-going stewardship of the cemetery. Trust-members are appointed under the Victorian Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, by the Governor in Council on recommendation of the State Minister for Health.
Gallery
Box Hill Cemetery Myer Memorial.jpg, Myer family
The Myer family is an Australian retailing dynasty with jewish origin. It was founded in Australia by Sidney Myer, who started the department store Myer, and Merlyn Myer, his wife. Following the death of Sidney Myer in 1934, his nephew, Sir No ...
grave.
Anglis family grave, Box Hill Cemetery, 2017.jpg, Angliss family grave.
Grave_of_George_Tallis,_Box_Hill_Cemetery_2017.jpg, Grave of Sir George and Lady Tallis.
Grave of John and Frances Higgins, Box Hill Cemetery 2017.jpg, Grave of Sir John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Secon ...
Dame Frances Higgins.
Grave of G. J. Coles 2017.jpg, Grave of Sir James Coles of Coles Supermarkets.
Grave of George McBeath2017.jpg, Grave of Sir George McBeath.
Grave of James and Kate Menzies, Box Hill Cemetery 2017.jpg, Grave of James and Kate Menzies, parents of Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Sir Robert Menzies
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
References
External links
Box Hill Cemetery
– Billion Graves
* {{Find a Grave cemetery, 1962589
1873 establishments in Australia
Cemeteries in Melbourne
Heritage sites in Melbourne
Buildings and structures in the City of Whitehorse