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"If you cannot get rid
of the family skeleton,
you may as well make
it dance"
George Bernard Shaw
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Monumental Inscriptions
in the
Nillumbik (Diamond Creek) Cemetery
35 Main Street, Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
Transcribed by Andrea Johnson
The Nillumbik (also known as Diamond Creek) cemetery was first gazetted in 1867. All plots have now been sold.
The original burial records for the cemetery were stored in a shed located within the cemetery grounds, and were
destroyed by a bush fire that swept through the township in 1910. The records were then reconstructed from burial
orders and the memories of individuals whom already owned a plot, or had a loved one buried in the cemetery.
The cemetery was originally divided into five compartments: Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and two Anglican
compartments; there are no visible signs marking these compartments. A small memorial garden is now used for the
interment of ashes.
The impressive cemetery entrance gates and brick archway, were erected in 1897, from proceeds of the will of William
Ellis (a local pioneer). He bequeathed £100 for a gate to be erected at the entrance to the cemetery, with
a design first to be submitted to, and approved of, by his wife Louisa Ellis. The inscription facing Main Street
reads: “JANVA VITAE”, meaning “Gate of Life”. The inscription above the archway facing towards the graves reads:
“Erected by the late William Ellis in 1897”.
The Nillumbik Historical Society holds a draft plan of the cemetery showing marked graves. Please direct any grave
location inquiries to Mr. Jock Ryan, 14 Collins Street, Diamond Creek. 3089. Victoria. Australia. Ph. (03) 9438
3439.
I have compiled this index alphabetically by surname. Surnames Mc (such as McKenzie), or O’ (such as O’Donald)
are indexed alphabetically. This index also contains cremations, and I have noted the word (cremation) in the inscription
column. There are over 660 headstones in the cemetery.
Some burials of note include:
Alice Adeline GARDNER died 1993 aged 100 years
Andrew William HARDWIDGE died 1979, founder of the Greensborough and District Cricket Club.
Franklin JACKSON who perished in the bush 1908
William John MARSDEN of Panton Hill C.F.A. who died fighting bushfires on Ash Wednesday 1983
Alan MARSHALL well known author of “I can jump puddles”
Edward Melian SHOWERS died 1917, late Commissioner of Police Calcutta India and Transvaal South Africa
George Thornton UPTON (M. B. E.)
James Joseph WHYTE killed by a fall of stone in the Diamond Mine, Diamond Creek 1908
A | B | C |
D | E | F | G
| H | IJ | K | L
| M | NO | PQ | R
| S | T | UV | W
| YZ
I wish to thank my daughter Megan and sister Kylie, for their help with the deciphering of the headstones. I
would also like to thank my better half, Neil, for his loving support and encouragement, which definitely helped
me to complete this project. Lastly I want to thank the Rev. Jock Ryan, and Geoff Kidd of the Nillumbik Historical
Society for their help.
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