Katherine and the pioneer
cemetery 150m south of the
headstones, wooden markers
and star pickets.
Photos kindly taken by ugly sister no 2
Above plaque - This Cemetery is thought to have been established in 1884
in conjunction with the survey for the route of the Palmerston & Pine Creek
Railway.
Located alongside the railway reserve it was only 100 metres from the
original police station and the Q.C.E Hotel.
The numbers of graves and extent of the cemetery are unknown as timber
markers may have been used for earlier grave sites. In circa 1912-1913 the
grave yard was described as “..a few ancient crumbling stones, almost
hidden by the long grass and weeds.”
Five grave sites remain within the cemetery, including those of John George Chapman and Alf Hatt, and Kitty
Ah Quee who was buried on February 1976.
Others who may be buried here but whose graves remain unidentified are George and Fanny Allen.
Although the above plaque
states that the cemetery was thought to have
been established in 1884, it is
believed that the first burial was of a young gold-miner,
Edwin Allen
who died on 16 November 1874.
John George Chapman was buried on the 1 September 1971. He was buried in the grave
occupied by his mate Alf Hatt,
hence the two grave markers
for the one grave.
The plaque was provided by the
National Trust (NT) in association with the Coomalie Community Government
Council.
In memory of John George Chapman (Chappie) born Feb
23rd 1894 at
Front wooden cross- Memory of Alf
Hatt
Police Enquiry
Statements of witnesses touching the death of Edwin Allen at River Adelaide on November 18, 1874.
Ernest Peters, Carrier, stated –
I came from the Stapleton Creek to the
Deceased had a nobbler of limejuice and a nobbler of limejuice and
brandy at
of my wagon about 100 yards, when it stopped. When I came up I saw
deceased lying on the road about four feet from his dray. I jumped down and
went up to him,
and said, “Come on, Allen, lets get into camp,” and shook him. He
groaned and replied, “O, Peters.”
Anticipating nothing serious, I let him lie while I turned the horses
out,
and then shook him again, and advised him to get up and come and stop
the night at
then insensible and appeared to be in great pain. I saw no bruises on
the body; didn’t see him fall off the dray. I think deceased died from
excessive drinking, accelerated by
receiving a sudden chill.
Edward Prosper Hopewell, publican,
stated-Allen came into my house about 2.30 this afternoon. He was not sober and
could not walk straight. I served him with limejuice
and as the brandy was on the counter he helped himself. He remained in
my house about 20 minutes. I saw him drive away. About half an hour afterwards
Peters
(who left with him) returned and said “
I’ve seen him drunk frequently.
Peters went away but sometime afterwards returned and asked me to help
him carry Allen into my house. I went out and saw deceased lying in a pool of
water, his trousers
were about his ankle, and his shirt was torn. I helped to carry him in,
we took his clothes off and laid him in a hammock on the ground and covered him
with a counterpane.
He appeared to be suffering great internal pain. This was about 4pm. I
took no further notice of him, as I did not think he was seriously ill, only
drunk. About 30 minutes 9
as I was on my way to Peters room, I placed my hand on deceased’s
forehead; it was cold. I called Peters to turn out and look at him, and I then
brought a light and discovered
that he was dead.
Richard Clark, laborer, stated-Was
with Allen during the afternoon at Doherty’s public house; he was not sober. I
live at Doherty’s. I served him with a bottle of beer.
He left after remaining about 10 minutes. The next time I saw him he was
lying in a pool of water alongside of his dray. Peters and I attempted to carry
him into the hotel,
but deceased cried out “O, don’t,
Peters”. We then called
George Thomas Doherty, stated-Deceased was in my
public house about 2 o’clock this afternoon. I served him with no grog. I can’t
tell whether he was drunk or sober, as I
was not very well. He stayed in the house but a short time.
Other possible
burials at the cemetery.
To all constables of the
I, the undersigned, George
Montagu, being one of her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the
Ah Tung, who died at
of the said Ah Tung and that
the body of the said Ah Tung may be
buried. Given under my hand the 27th day of January 1880. George Montagu, J.P. Coroner
To all constables of the
I, the undersigned R R
Cruickshank, being one her Majesty’s Justice of the Peace ……………………………….etc,
the death of one John Turner, who
died at
Given under my hand the 8th day of November 1881. R R Cruikshank, J.P., Coroner
To all constables of the
I, the undersigned R R Cruikshank,
being one her Majesty’s Justice of the Peace ……………………………….etc, the death of one
Lucie Caroline Chown, who died at
Lucie Caroline Chown, and that the body
may be buried. Given under my hand the 8th day of November 1881. R R Cruikshank, J.P., Coroner