Wow! Was this so much fun and so interesting!
This is taken straight from their website:
"Melbourne’s iconic and historically significant cemetery.
One of Australia’s most historically significant cemeteries, Melbourne General Cemetery is characterised by it’s notable interments, heritage listed Gate House, Prime Ministers Garden and Saint Mary of the Cross mausoleum.
The striking grounds, designed like a large public park, span 43 hectares (106 acres) and feature many historic and ornate monuments.
Covering 43 hectares (106 acres), the Melbourne General Cemetery is one of the most important cemeteries in Australia, established with trustees in 1852 and opened in 1853. It was the first modern cemetery in Victoria, in that it was designed like a large public park with wide wavy paths, separate religious areas, gate lodges, rotundas, chapels, evergreen trees and shrubs.
The first burial was that of John Burnett in 1853 and there have been over 300,000 burials since then. The heritage listed gate lodge was rebuilt during 1934 and 35 and the oldest surviving buildings are the Jewish chapel of 1854 and the Catholic mortuary chapel of the 1870s and 1880s."
Marie and I found it to be a really fascinating way to spend a few evening hours on a hot, Melbourne night.
The tomb of the longest serving Prime Minister of Australia, Sir Robert Menzies.
Lots of fascinating monuments.
They make for a dramatic skyline.
A draped weeping woman on the grave of one of the richest men buried here.
Look at that moon!
This man was the famous "Vagabond", see the hand with the pen on his tombstone? You can read more about him here.
Many of the older monuments tell a story. This one is about a fireman who was tragically killed fighting a fire on board a ship at Port Melbourne. His tombstone is covered in symbols of his profession - see the firehose and tap on the right. And the inscription at the bottom.
Some tombs are very elaborate.
This is the underground mausoleum which they have just opened. It looks like a hotel lobby! It is called the gallery of Angels, with prints of angels and piped music. Only a cool $40, 000 to $50, 000 to be buried here!
Of course, I took lots more photos but I won't bore you with them. All I will say is, that if you live in Melbourne this tour is well worth doing.
On our way back to the car, Marie and I noticed a whole lot of people milling around on the nearby oval. So, we wandered over to have a look.
Imagine our surprise when we discovered that medieval fantasy battles were going on!
Apparently, every Friday night for the past five or so years, people just turn up in costume with fake weapons and try to win three flags for their battalion by "killing" their opponents by hitting them on the back. If you are "dead" you kneel, sit or lie down.
What fun! All very civilised, as when one melee came close to where we were watching, I heard one young man,as he "killed" a slightly older man, apologise for being too rough! lol!
I cannot believe that I had never known that this sort of event was a regular occurrence!
I did suggest to Marie that it could be our new activity - lol! Although, for some strange reason, she did not necessarily think that this was going to happen!
Anyway, TraderVic and I are off to collect my dear Dad and then it is up to Ballarat for today and tomorrow to visit my Uncle and Aunt. So, some car stitching in my near future.
hugs,
