This index was transcribed on 25/09/2005 from the Cemetery Records held in the main office of the Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton, Victoria.
Approval was given for the purpose of family tree research. The complete index is available on C.D. and can be purchased from them.
Approximately 119,600 burials in total are on the index in this cemetery.
A very detailed map of all graves is available at the main office.
For further information on any burials, codes and locations click on this enquiries@necropolis.com.au email address.
The Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton was officially opened in early 1853 with the old cemetery being where the Victoria Market is today.
The first burial was that of John Burnett, a colonial merchant. He was buried on the 28th May 1853.
The earliest Wills burial took place on the 5 Dec 1854 with the most recent being on the 7 July 1978.
Many important people of note have been buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. For this index view the cemetery website.
The most famous burial was that of the explorer WILLIAM JOHN WILLS. In the book "The Journey of Burke and Wills" published by the Guild of St.Lawrence in Ashburton, Devon, England it states that WILLS died about the 28th June and Burke died about the 1st July in 1861.
At that time Dr.Wills ( William's father ) and the general public were becoming anxious for the safety of Burke and Wills. Many letters had been written to the committee with no reply. He then walked from Ballarat to Melbourne (75miles) to demand a search party be sent to find the expedition.
By this time the press was in full cry as a search party of four lead by Alfred Howitt, an experienced explorer set out on the 26th June 1861 on Cobb's coach for Swan Hill on route for Coopers Creek. Eventually they met some aborigines near Innaminka and not long after the tragic news struck them.
Both Burke and Wills were dead with the only survivor of the expedition being John King. When King was strong enough, he returned to Melbourne with Howitt's party.
The committee then decided that Burke and Wills should be buried in Melbourne, so Howitt was asked to return and disinter the bodies. The funeral of Burke and Wills took place on the 20th January 1863.
The Burke and Wills memorial can be located at the corner of First and Second Avenue in the Church of England section not far from inside the main entrance gate. A monument has also been erected for William John Wills back in his home town of Totnes in Devon. John King, the only survivor of the expedition was also buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery and his impressive grave is located in the Wesleyan section. Area A-Grave no. 339.
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