<< [Back to Press releases]

RURAL CEMETERY RECORDS CELEBRATE OUR LOVED ONES WHO SHAPED VICTORIA

Ancestry.com.au launches 152 years of Victorian Cemetery Transcriptions, from 1836 to 1988

Dame Nellie Melba lives on in our hip pockets
David Fletcher Jones weaved into the fabric of our society
Brewer Martin McKenna reformed?
Senior Constable Edward Barnett killed in gold rush battle

Ancestry.com.au today exclusively launched online the Victorian Cemetery Transcriptions, 1836-1988, which contain the records of 170,000 people buried in
240 rural Victorian cemeteries.

The records, previously only available on CD through the Australian Institute for Genealogical Studies (AIGS), span 152 years and represent a vital piece of Victorian history as they detail the existence of so many of the State’s rural residents.

Ancestry.com.au Marketing Director Debra Chesterton comments: “So many of these people would have played a vital role in shaping Victoria’s history, from the pioneers, convicts and free settlers of the 1800’s to the politicians, artists and poets who moved Victoria into the 20th century.

“More and more people are researching their ancestry and the Easter break provides a good opportunity to get together with family members to honour their heritage.

“These records are a celebration of the lifetime achievements of the everyday Australians who lived and worked hard to shape the Victoria of today.”

Many prominent Victorians are featured in the collection, many representing the more colourful side to Victoria’s past:

Dame Nellie Melba (buried at Lilydale) – born Helen Porter Mitchell, Melba was often referred to as Australia’s first superstar, wowing opera audiences around the world. Melba is often remembered today as she features on the Australian $100 bill.

David Fletcher Jones (buried at Warnambool) – founder of clothing retailer Fletcher Jones, Jones revolutionised the clothing industry in Australia and at the time of his death was one of the largest clothing manufacturers in the world.

Martin McKenna (Buried at Kyneton) – has the brewer turned politician redeemed himself in the afterlife? Also residing in Kyneton Cemetery is temperance worker and women’s advocate Cecilia Downing.

Senior Constable Edward Barnett (the first person to be buried in Carisbrook cemetery) – in 1858 after Barnett was shot by murderer and thief William Brook, 1500 gold miners targeted ‘undesirables’ drawn to the gold fields near Carisbrook in a riot that resulted in many buildings being destroyed.

The Victorian Cemetery Transcriptions, 1836-1988 are fully indexed and contain searchable information such as name, date and place of death, cemetery, age and state.

They are available to Ancestry.com.au members and through a 14-day free trial.