A Brief History of Waverley Cemetery

A cemetery for Waverley was discussed as early as 1863. Five years later Waverley Council agreed to manage this new cemetery. In 1875 the first purchase of land to start the cemetery took place. The first interment took place in the afternoon of 4 August 1877. To date over 80,000 interments have taken place in 50,000 gravesites and memorials over 40 acres. Future reservations can be arranged in Graves and Memorial Gardens plots. The cemetery grounds are open to visitors everyday from 7am until dusk. All inquiries should be made at the cemetery office.

A Brief History of South Head General Cemetery

South Head General Cemetery located on Old South Head Road in Vaucluse had its first interment in 1869 having been established much earlier to cater for the needs of the growing population of the isolated district. Today the cemetery has over 6,000 gravesites and memorials in 4 acres. In the early 1940’s the management of South Head General Cemetery passed from a private trust to Waverley Council who had owned and operated the larger Waverley Cemetery (now in Bronte) that opened in 1877. South Head General Cemetery is now operated in conjunction with Waverley Cemetery and visitors are welcome from dawn till dusk.

A list of just some of the many notable people who have been laid at rest at Waverley Cemetery:

Albert Family - Music publishers and builders of the 'Boomerang' mansion in Sydney.
Arthur Tauchert - Star of the silent movie classic 'The Sentimental Bloke'.
Charles Kinsela family - Taylor Square Funeral Directors.
Dorothea Mackellar - Poet.
Edmund Resch - Beer brewer.
Eliza Winstanley - Australia's 1st leading lady of the stage.
George & Charlotte Sargent - Meat pie bakers.
Maj George Johnston - 'Rum' Corp soldier & Pioneer.
Harold Hardwick - champion swimmer & boxer.
Harry Rickards - Tivoli Theatre owner.
Henry Kendall - Poet
Henry Lawson - Writer & poet.
Jules Francoise Archibald - founder and editor of The Bulletin newspaper, public benefactor & provider of the annual portrait prize in his name.
John Fingleton OBE - Australian Cricketer & 'Bodyline' veteran.
John Sands - Greeting card manufacturer & stationer.
Laurence Foley - Boxer.
Lawrence Hargrave - Aviator and inventor.
Louis Beck - Poet.
Oscar Eliason - 'Dante the Great' (magician & conjurer).
"Queenie" Paul - Vaudevillian actor.
Roderick Quinn - Poet & writer.
Sarah (Fanny) Durack - Olympic gold medal swimmer.
Sir Frances Forbes - 1st Chief Justice of NSW.
Sir James Dowling - Judge & Chief Justice of NSW
Sir James Martin - Judge, politician & Chief Justice NSW
Thomas Dixon - Funeral Director
Thomas Fisher - University library benefactor.
Victor Daly - Poet.
Victor Trumper - Test Cricketer.
Walter Carter - Funeral Director & local politician.
William Dymock - Book seller.

And many more...