DUNWICH CEMETERY, North Stradbroke Is., Queensland

Dunwich Cemetery is the resting place of many, including over 8,000 former inmates of the 
Dunwich Benevolent Asylum for the Destitute.

There are many sites that will give you some of the history of Dunwich Cemetery, including this one here  

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2680272.htm#


You can also search the records at the Queensland State Archives

http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx


Judy Webster, a well known and respected Queensland genealogist,  has a few Dunwich patients  included in the list on www.judywebster.com.au/colsec.html.

You can find much more of Judy's work at www.judywebster.com.au/index.html



From the Qld State Archives using Tiny URL...

http://tinyurl.com/9ndgytu

ESTABLISHMENT:
Dunwich Benevolent Asylum was established 13 May 1865 when inmates were first transferred to the Dunwich Quarantine Station from the Benevolent Ward attached to the Brisbane Hospital. Dunwich Benevolent Asylum continued to operate until it was officially closed on 30 Sep 1946. Inmates were gradually transferred to Eventide, Sandgate, which was officially opened on 4 Oct 1946.

FUNCTION:
The function of Dunwich Benevolent Asylum as defined by the "Benevolent Asylum Wards Act of 1861" was to provide for poor people who because of age, accident, infirmity or otherwise were unable to care for themselves.

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE:
The Officer-in-Charge, Benevolent Asylum, Dunwich, was appointed on 1 Jan 1867. From 13 May 1865 to 1 May 1867, Dunwich Benevolent Asylum was administered by the Brisbane General Hospital. From 1867 the administration of the Asylum became the direct responsibility of the Colonial Secretary's Office and subsequent agencies.
 There are several books on Dunwich Asylum and the inmates there, as well as numerous mentions in Trove and other sites. As the aim of this post is to portray the cemetery as it is today, I will show just a few of the images of yesterday, leaving you to search the rest from the sites above and your own research.

Queensland State Archives Agency ID861, Dunwich Benevolent Asylum

Women's quarters at Dunwich Benevolent Asylum, North Stradbroke Island, 1914
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2009-02-10 copyright expired

Dunwich Benevolent Asylum, North Stradbroke Island, ca. 1935
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2009-02-10 copyright expired

Resident of Dunwich Benevolent Asylum, Stradbroke Island, 1938

John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2009-02-10 copyright expired 

DUNWICH CEMETERY TODAY

Normally, I would post these within the Queensland, outside Brisbane, page. However, thanks to the generosity of a lady called Kerry Shortis, who kindly photographed a large number of graves within this very old and important cemetery, I believe that it deserves a page of it's own.

All photographs are reproduced here with permission from the copyright owner.

Over time, there will be more photos added. May this serve as a memorial to those who have passed before us, many of whom have led such lives as we can barely come to terms with.

Rest in Peace and know that you are not forgotten.

     (c) Kerry Shortis

There is a list of interments at 
http://www.interment.net/data/aus/qld/redland/dunwich/index.htm 
however, this is not comprehensive.

There is also a list of the names of passengers on the ill fated ship, The Emigrant, who succumbed to typhus.       http://members.pcug.org.au/~phodge/plaque.htm



Some partial photos of the Emigrant plaque... all the following photos are copyright of Kerry Shortis.

(c) Kerry Shortis

 (c) Kerry Shortis 

From a memorial wall.... while not all are Irish descendants, I felt that I couldn't leave some out when transcribing... therefore, you will some included that haven't yet been determined as to whether they have Irish links.

    (c) Kerry Shortis 

In loving memory of William McVay

Died 10th October 1923

born Kilkeel, Down, Ireland

Husband of Bridget Gibbin

At Rest

*******************************

In Memory of

Thomas J. Hurley

1855-1915

Native of Clare, Ireland

In God's Care

*****************************

In Memory of

Harriet Rabbitt

1856-6-11-38

Daughter of William

born Mcintyre River

in God's Care

****************************

In memory of

Samuel Moore Munce

1817 - 1886

born Dublin, son of

Samuel and Sarah Moore

********************************

In memory of

Heinrich Bopp

22-1---1862 to 26-5-1933

who migrated from 

Birmenstorf

Aargua Swizerland

on the 26th March, 1884

                                                               Not Irish   NI

**********************************

     (c) Kerry Shortis 

In Memory of

Ellen Morris

born 1820 Died 1895

from Ire, 1863

with Peter and 8 children

R.I.P.

***********************************

The following have yet to be transcribed... all are copyright of Kerry Shortis. I am most appreciative of Kerry's generosity in sharing her photos.

 These are the graves of the 26 victims of the typhus outbreak on board The Emigrant in 1850.


*****************************************************




The following photos are copyright of Jeff O'Keefe who has kindly donated them to this site.

I will add more details as they become available.

DUNWICH CEMETERY OVERVIEW...

    (c) Jeff O' Keefe

    (c) Jeff O'Keefe






Edward Devlin
b. 6th Aug 1907
County Tyrone, Ireland
along with his wife
Isabella Devlin
b. 17 Jun 1907
Glasgow, Scotland

                            (c) Jeff O'Keefe