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Waverley Cemetery

Item
Name of Item: Waverley Cemetery
Type of Item: Landscape
Group/Collection: Cemeteries and Burial Sites
Category: Cemetery/Graveyard/Burial Ground
Primary Address: St Thomas Street, Waverley, NSW 2024
Local Govt. Area: Waverley
Property Description:
Lot/Volume Code Lot/Volume Number Section Number Plan/Folio Code Plan/Folio Number
All Addresses
Street Address Suburb/Town LGA Parish County Type
St Thomas Street 
Waverley 
Waverley 
Alexandria 
Cumberland 
Primary 

Statement of Significance

Impressive period cemetery, especially remarkable for its dramatic coastal site. Well preserved, retaining much of its original Victorian period character. Stone buildings, gates and fencing are of outstanding aesthetic value. Cemetery includes the graves of many prominent historical figures. Excellent surviving reminder of Victorian and Edwardian attitudes to life and death. One of Sydney's largest and best known old cemeteries. State significance.
Date Significance Updated: 07 Feb 00
Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.

Description
Construction Years: 1851 - 1890
Physical Description: Cemetery on dramatic coastal site, retaining much of its original Victorian character. Elements surviving from the Victorian period include the general layout of graves and access roads, the imposing carved sandstone gateposts, the cast iron gates and fencing (dated 1877), the finely detailed stone gateway building, the many Victorian monuments and headstones, stone gutters to some access roads and timber picket boundary fencing (possibly from c.1880). (See also archaeological inventory).
Current Use: Cemetery
Former Use: Cemetery

History
Historical Notes: The NSW Government financed the purchase of 4 hectares (10 acres) for a cemetery in the 1870's, on the understanding that Waverley Council would be responsible for its maintenance. An adjoining 5 hectares (12 acres) was a gift from local citizens. The cemetery's first internment was in August, 1877. A sinking fund was set up in 1892 to cover ongoing maintenance. Served the whole of the Eastern Suburbs for over a century.

Historic Themes
Australian Theme (abbrev) New South Wales Theme Local Theme
9. Phases of Life - Marking the phases of life Birth and Death - Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. (none) -

Assessment of Significance
SHR Criteria a)
[Historical Significance]
This item is of historical and cultural significance
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic Significance]
This item is of streetscape/landscape significance
 
Integrity/Intactness: Substantially intact
Assessment Criteria Items are assessed against the PDF State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.


Listings
Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number Gazette Date Gazette Number Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan      06 Dec 96      
Heritage study           
Study Details
Title Year Number Author Inspected by Guidelines Used
Waverley Heritage Study  1990  L20/2018  Perumal Murphy Pty Limited    No 

References, Internet links & Images
None
Note: Internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on Thumbnail for Full Size Image and Image Details)

Data Source
The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: Local Government
Database Number: 2620382

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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