HISTORY & COMMUNITY · ROOKWOOD / WESTERN SYDNEY
Exploring the History of Sydney's Rookwood Cemetery
Published · Updated · Cenlocal summary
Rookwood, one of the largest cemeteries in the Southern Hemisphere, marks more than 150 years of Sydney history while its managers look for ways to address a shortage of burial space.
Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney's west holds more than a century and a half of the city's stories — and, as reported by ABC News, it is also facing a shortage of space.
A long history
As reported by the ABC, Rookwood was established in 1867 in an area then known as Haslams Creek, as the old Devonshire Street cemetery — where Central Station now stands — was filling up. It was once served by a dedicated mortuary train line from Central, with stops inside the cemetery grounds.
The cemetery was originally divided among six denominations and now caters for around 140 religions. It was placed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999, after a conservation order in 1989.
Preserving the record
The ABC reported that volunteers with the Society of Australian Genealogists spent eight years transcribing around 750,000 graves after a road project removed some headstones. The Friends of Rookwood group continues to run tours and raise money to restore older parts of the cemetery.
Running out of room
According to the ABC's reporting, Metropolitan Memorial Parks, which manages about two-thirds of the site, has said most of the cemetery's "at-need" burial space could be exhausted by around 2036, with some faith groups affected sooner. This is a particular concern for communities whose traditions require burial. A proposal to convert the nearby Carnarvon Golf Course into cemetery land has drawn community opposition, and a final decision rests with the NSW Government.
Cemetery managers have pointed to options such as renewable interment rights, which are available but not compulsory in NSW and are not suitable for every faith.
Why it matters
Rookwood is a significant heritage site for families across Sydney and for the many cultural and faith communities of Western Sydney. How the city plans for future burial space will affect communities for generations.
This is an original Cenlocal summary; facts are attributed to ABC News.
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Sources & Further Reading
This is an original Cenlocal summary. Cenlocal is not the original reporter; facts are attributed to the sources below.
