New Self-guided Walking Tour

A new self-walking tour has been introduced by the Gippsland Memorial Park, following the footsteps of the early pioneers buried within these grounds, who worked so hard to create the Traralgon district as we know it today. A brochure & map are available at the office for you to take as you walk around the cemetery finding these graves and reading the information provided. All the graves are in the oldest part of the cemetery in The Bluff which is at the top of the hill overlooking Tyers behind the cemetery. You start at the entrance of the Old Lodge at the entrance at the top of the car park. The brochure has the grave location for each and the map will show you what areas are symbolised by the numbered location. eg. WB is the Wesleyan Baptist area. NSM is the Northern Slopes Methodist area.

Many grave locations were identified as the Northern Slopes of the cemetery, hence some locations start with NS followed by a letter designated to the different denomination. The cemetery was divided into the different denominations in those days as everyone belonged to a religion. Each of the Trust members were chosen to represent those different denominations.

The people included in this tour are:

John Bodycomb (NSM-A-024) – John opened the first flour mill in Gippsland at Heyfield, before coming to Callignee setting himself up as a successful dairy farmer.  He was on the Rosedale & Traralgon Councils for 38 years.

Thomas Copeland (NSM-C-051) – Thomas owned one of the finest sites of land where the old part Cemetery now is and called “The Bluff”. Land was purchased from him to establish this part of the cemetery.

Harry C Jones (NSM-D-048) – Harry was a very popular and prominent citizen of Traralgon, President of the Mechanics Institute and involved with the Chruch of England. He was on the Cemetery Trust from 1894-1900 as both Chairman and Secretary over the years. He was a leading JP, holding leadership positions in the Argyle Lodge of Freemasons.

Nell Newman (NSM-J-008) –  Nell was the granddaughter of Leah Liddiard who selected land where the Traralgon showgrounds are now. Newman Park is named after her family who donated the land to the Council for a children’s park. Nell was a member of St. James Church of England, the Red Cross and the Country Women’s Association.

Andrew Galbraith (NSB-A-006) – Andrew arrived in Beechworth in 1856 and established a bakery and confectionary business. In 1875 the family moved to Tyers where he established a dairy herd, ran a bakery in Traralgon and was an instigator in the building of the Tyers Road bridge at The Bluff, linking Traralgon to Tyers. He worked to gain a Primary School, Mechanics Institute, Creamery & Butter Factory in Tyers. He was a Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths for Tyers, was on the Traralgon Council and the Cemetery Trust from 1880-1893. He played with the Traralgon Band.

Daniel McCarthy (NSC-A-071) – Daniel was an ironmonger and came to Traralgon with his wife Mary in the 1880’s, setting up a plumbing and tin-smithing business. He patented the flat bottom watering can and was active in the Catholic Church, representing them on the Cemetery Trust from 1895-1932. He was an original member of the Iron Quoit and Rifle Clubs, as well as being a Director and Shareholder in the Gas Works. He became an agent for many different types of farming machinery. He had an excellent singing voice and was in great demand.

Walter & Eva West (I-D-011) – Walter came to Traralgon in 1884 as a coachbuilder and blacksmith. After studying Administration and Politics he joined the Council in 1897, retiring from business and council to become Shire Secretary from 1922-1929. He was very involved in the community becoming Grandmaster in Manchester Unity, a driving force behind the Mechanics Institute, held executive positions in many sporting bodies and provided funds for many buildings in Traralgon.

Eva West, his daughter, opened many business fields for women and was extremely well known in Traralgon for many years. The Wests own a family grave where all the family (including the three girls) are all buried together. None of them married.

Thomas Pettit (OP-B-016)- Thomas established the Gippsland Farmer’s Journal and set up his printing business in Franklin Street, spending many years establishing many other newspapers around Gippsland and later in Melbourne. He was a very progressive thinker. After his newspaper days, he became a councillor and served two terms as Mayor of Traralgon. He was on the Cemetery Trust from 1894-1920, being both Chairman and Treasurer during that time.

Isabella Miller (OP-C-045) – Isabella trained as a nurse in Melbourne before returning to Traralgon and ran a hospital in Henry Street from 1910 until 1923. Many babies were born there, but she also nursed people with a variety of medical conditions. The hospital continued after she sold it.

Dugald Campbell (OP-D-022)- Dugald was from the second Campbell family to arrive in Traralgon in the early 1870’s. He has the oldest deed held at the GMP, was a well known and respected part owner of Traralgon Park as 52 vehicles and 80 horsemen representing sections of the community attended his funeral. He was a councillor for the Traralgon Shire representing the council on the Rosedale Roads Board and was President of the Agricultural Society. He died from falling off his horse.

John Stewart Milligan (OP-D-031) – John opened the Milligan Bros Store in Franklin Street selling groceries, crockery, ironmongery, lime, cement and timber. He set up the Tyers Coal Company and in 1894 he was appointed to the Traralgon Cemetery Trust where he stayed until 1911, serving as Chairman for most of that time. He was a Justice of the Peace and belonged to the Traralgon Traders Association. When he died, he left a considerable estate to his wife and children.

John Dunford (OP-J-007)- John is the first returned serviceman buried in Traralgon having served for England in India with the 84th regiment under Lord Roberts in 1857. He spent 6 years in India. In Traralgon he offered night services although not all of the town paid for that service in the 1880’s. He also offered to clean up backyards and removing rubbish. John was an enthusiastic supporter of the Rifle Club being on the committee until his death.

John & Kate Campbell (OP-K-022) – John arrived in Traralgon in 1856 and lived at Traralgon West on land leased by his brother Duncan. He built a house in Argyle Street and worked as a drover taking cattle to Melbourne before the railway was established and even took herds to Queensland. He sold his house later in 1875 and built “The Retreat” as the family home in Kay Street opposite the Traralgon Hotel.

Kate Campbell – his oldest daughter, is buried in the same grave. She took over the Post Office in her uncle Duncan’s hotel across the road, which was eventually moved to “The Retreat” in 1875. After the current Post Office was built, Kate went to Melbourne to train as a nurse and eventually became a matron at the Homeopathic Hospital (later Prince Henry’s). The family were very involved with the Presbyterian Church.

Bert Coates (P-F-019) – Bert was born in Moondarra and went to school in Traralgon. He belonged to the junior branch of the Independent Order of Rechabites. He enlisted in WW1 and served from 1915 – 1919, taking part in the landing at Gallipoli and received shrapnel in his leg, suffering from varicose veins also.

He was a very keen fisherman, was Secretary and President of the Fish and Game Society at times, winning many competitions. He was always happy to assist other anglers and had a large room at the back of his shop where others could gather and share their stories. In 1937 he was involved with the reformed Golf Club and played until late in life. He was also called on to entertain at many gatherings around the district with his singing as he had a lovely voice. In 1970 he was killed by a car as he crossed the road. The day before he had been fishing and played two rounds of golf.

Henry John Mapleson (WB-A-007) – Henry set up as a bootmaker with his brother, Joe, when the town was in its early stages of development. Joe was on the original Cemetery Trust from 1877-1879 and then seems to have left Traralgon. Henry selected good grazing land on a selection called Railway Run. Their only son enlisted as a 35 year old Sergeant in WW1 and is memorialised on his parents’ grave.