Old Sydney Burial Ground Explained

Old Sydney Burial Ground
Established:	1792
Closed:	1820
Country:	Australia
Location:	Sydney, New South Wales
Type:	No longer extant
Size:	2 acres
Interments:	2000+
Findagraveid:	2277569

The Old Sydney Burial Ground is the site of Sydney's inaugural permanent cemetery, located near the current corner of George Street and Druitt Street.^[1] Established in September 1792, the cemetery was closed in 1820, when the Devonshire Street Cemetery (also known as the Brickfield Cemetery or Sandhills Cemetery; now Central railway station) was opened;^[1] the cemetery was deemed a threat to public health by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.^[2] Covering about 8000 square metres, the cemetery was for the entire population, convicts and free citizens alike. There were about 2,000 people buried here, however no register was kept.^[3]

Sydney Town Hall and parts of Town Hall railway station are located on the grounds of the cemetery.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Anthony Lowe . Richard Mackay . 1992 . Old Sydney Burial Ground . Australian Society for Historical Archaeology . Australasian Historical Archaeology . 15–23.
2. Web site: Trams to wake to city's dead: Old Sydney Burial Ground a 'rare' site. Vikki. Campion. 25 September 2013. The Daily Telegraph.
3. Book: Murray, Lisa. Sydney Cemeteries: A Field Guide. New South Publishing. 2016. 9781742234489. Sydney.
4. Web site: Old Sydney Burial Ground. City of Sydney.
5. Web site: Town Hall Surrounds. Sydney Town Hall.
6. Web site: Burial: Early Sydney cemeteries. Australian Museum.