The Friends of St John’s Cemetery community group has proven that the volunteer spirit is well and truly alive in the local community, as they continue to preserve the site of Australia’s oldest surviving European cemetery.
Established in January 1790, St. John’s Cemetery stands as a testament to the rich history of Parramatta, weaving together the stories of its people, culture and pivotal events that shaped the city.
The Friends of St John’s Cemetery, formed in June 2016, draws individuals from many different walks of life, including parishioners at St John’s Anglican Cathedral and those with personal connections through ancestors buried there.
Cultural historian and Chair of the Friends of St John’s Cemetery Committee Judith Dunn said the cemetery holds a lot of important Australian history.
“St John’s Cemetery is the oldest surviving European cemetery in Australia. The people buried here are so well known in the early pages of the history of Australia,” she said.
“From Mayors of the area to prominent pioneers like D’Arcy Wentworth, the Pymbles, Harris of Harris Park – many of the major players are buried here.
“This is our heritage right here. The descendants of many people buried here have moved away, so as Parramatta locals, we feel a responsibility to care for these graves and preserve the stories of their inhabitants.”
The group meets regularly to maintain the historic site, remove weeds, clean up rubbish, and tidy burial sites.
The volunteers have also established a regular mowing schedule of the five-acre site, run community working bees and work with site owners St Johns Anglican Cathedral to organise necessary repair work.
Encouraging others to get involved, Dunn said that volunteering at St John’s Cemetery is a great way to discover the amazing stories of the past – especially the scandalous ones.
“I love cemetery work. They are quite often faceless, unknown people – and yet when we come in and do research, we find out the most extraordinary stories,” she added.
“We’re always looking for new members to join our group, not just to help us when we’re doing physical work. There are many other ways you can contribute. Research, fundraising, answering enquiries from the public – the list goes on!
“It’s not all dull and gloomy. We have a lot of fun along the way. We tell the scandalous stories just as much as the other stories and there’s always a lot of fun and lively interest.”
NSW Department of Planning and Environment Executive Director Heritage Sam Kidman said volunteer groups like the Friends of St John’s Cemetery are often the heroes of heritage conservation in NSW.
“The strength of our heritage lies not only in its bricks and mortar but in the hearts and hands of those who willingly give their time to protect it,” Kidman said.
To find out more information about The Friends of St John’s Cemetery, or to join the volunteer group, visit http://www.friendsofstjohnscemetery.wordpress.com.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.