Robert O'Hara Burke and Thomas Pope Besnard were childhood friends. As sexton of the local Back Creek Cemetery Thomas Besnard organised a subscription to raise the money for a monument to Burke, Wills and Gray. A subscription of one shilling, no more and not less, was asked so all subscribers were equal. The Bendigo monument was designed by Adam Duncan and features a Corinthian column mounted on a foundation stone, topped with a Grecian urn draped with the Union Jack. The stone for the monument was quarried from New Chum Mine. The site in the Bendigo Cemetery was selected by Besnard so the monument was on a grass knoll well clear of any other graves. The design included landscaping with a path and garden beds that provided dignified access. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo has been entered on the Register of the National Estate as being important for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo. The foundation block was laid on 20 August 1862 by Chairman of the Bendigo Municipality, Charles Burrows – exactly two years after the Expedition left Melbourne. A half day holiday was declared by Bendigo Council, and a procession left the Bendigo Town Hall and marched to the cemetery where 8000 people were gathered and another 4000 lined the route. John King was unable to attend due to ill health. Chairman of the Municipality of Bendigo, Charles Burrows, gave a long address, and diaries of members of the expedition, the Sandhurst Almanac, the Bendigo Advertiser, the Bendigo Independent Evening News, photographs of the deceased, photographs of Public Buildings in Bendigo, a Sydney half sovereign and all the silver coins of the Realm were wrapped in a Union Jack and placed in a niche in the foundation stone. Fifteen months later a column was erected on the foundation stone after Besnard openly criticised the Memorial Committee for their lack of action. The Bendigo Advertiser was disappointed at the location of the monument preferring a more central location and in 1893 an attempt was made to move the monument to Rosalind Park. On 19 May 1893, Mr Minto, the City Surveyor of the Bendigo MunicIpality reported it would cost £25, and no other action occurred. In 1940 the land around the memorial was sold off as grave sites and the paths and garden beds disappeared with graves now surrounding the base of the monument. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo Cemetery was entered on the Register of the National Estate for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo.Burke and Wills Memorial at Bendigo Cemetery, 2018Erected by the people of Bendigo in honor of the Victorian Explorers, Burke, Wills, Gray and King who first crossed the continent of Australia. King alone surviving the privation and suffering under which his three brave ill-fated companions sank. A.D. 1862. Robert O'Hara Burke, leader of the Victorian Expedition, left Melbounre 24th August 1860. Reached Carpentaria 12th Feby 1861. Died on his return at Coopers Creek, 30th June 1861. Charles Gray, died also on his return at Polygorum Swamp. 17th April 1861. William John Wills, second in command, died also near Coopers Creek, 29th June 1861. bendigo cemetery, burke and wills, burke and wills memorial, william john wills, john o'hara burke, charles gray, polygonum swamp, coopers creek, victorian expedition, carpentaria, bendigo public cemetery, bendigo remembrance park, thomas pope besnard

Colour photograph of the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, graves

Colour photograph of the chapel in the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, graves, chapel

Colour photograph of headstones in the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, graves, headstones

Colour photograph of a grave in the Bendigo Cemetery.Erected by David Brough in memory of his beloved wife Jean, who died Aug 10th 1889, aged 70 years Also their daughter Annie, the beloved wife of Joseph Walker, who died June 2nd 1873, aged 22 years.> "Thy will be done." Also David Brough died nov. 1st 1900, aged 79 years. At rest bendigo cemetery, david brough, jean brough walker, joseph walker, annie, gravestone

Bendigo cemetery receipt: 'received from Gilbert Rule the sum of four pounds. Dated Sept 3rd. 1929'. The Rule Collection was received from Sally Routledge, who received it from Margaret Allan, City of Greater Bendigo. It is assumed that the collection was sent to the Council in the belief that Bendigo had a museum.Bendigo Cemeterygilbert rule, bendigo

Colour photograph of the Wiegard headstone in the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, peter hoey finn, headston, wilhelm wiegard, mary wiegard

Colour photograph of the Bravo headstone in the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, peter hoey finn, headstone, fanny bravo, augustime bravo

Colour photograph of the chapel and headstones in the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, graves, chapel

Colour photograph of the Chinese section in the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, graves, headstones, chinese, lee kie

Colour photograph of the Chinese section in the Bendigo Cemetery.A plaque states: This Pomelo Tree (known to the Chinese as the tree of life) was planted on 9 October 1996 in recognition and to the memory of the many Chinese buried at or in close proximity to this site during the 19th and 20th centuries. bendigo cemetery, graves, headstones, chinese, oven

A number of china roses affixed to graves at Bendigo Cemetery. bendigo cemetery, china roses

William Denovan was an important character in Bendigo's goldfield agitation.A number of photographs of the grave of William Denovan in the Bendigo Cemetery.Sacred to the memory of William Dixon Campbell Denovan who entered the new life on the 18th July 1906, aged 77 years. "And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since and liste awhile" In remembrance of Margaret Dixon Denovan who departed this life 07 July 1896 aged 79 years Beloved by all who knew her. Erected by her sonwilliam denovan, bendigo cemetery, margaret denovan, red ribbon rebellion

Colour photograph of the Creswick headstone in the Bendigo Cemetery. It it surrounded by a beautiful hand forged fence. Erected to the memory of Charles P.R. Creswick eldest and beloved son of Josiah and Catherine Hampton who died at Redan Hill January 21st, 1867, aged twelve years and six months." "In youth our lives are not secure in childhood years we die."bendigo cemetery, headstone, forged fence, charles p.r. creswick hampton, charles philip richard creswick hampton, josiah hampton, catherine hampton

Photograph. Bendigo Cemetery Chapel. Photo from late 1960s early 1970s.bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery chapel

DVD. Bendigo Cemetery, Photographs and Burial List.dvd collection, bendigo cemetery

Five handwritten pages of research done by Carol Holsworth on the Bendigo Cemetery sandstone tombstones.bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery

Colour photograph of the Chinese section at the Bendigo Cemetery taken July 1993. Taken from same position as photo held at N.C.G. Library.bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery

BHS CollectionYellow trifold document: Self Guided tour of the Bendigo Cemetery, 145 Years of History 1858 - 1993. Document contains a map of a section of the Bendigo Cemetery, 29 graves are numbered and described. E.g. J.C.T. Ballerstedt, Quartz Reefer, Robert Clark 8 hour day pioneer, Giuseppe Favaloro restaurateur. Hitching rail outside cemetery gates is noted.bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery tour

Colour photograph of the Helsham Gravestone in Bendigo Cemetery. It includes a memorial for Pte J. George Douglas Helsham who was killed at Gallipoli during World War One. In loving memory of my dear son Pte. J. George Douglas Helsham Late 7th Bn. A.I.F. Killed at Gallipoli between 25-4-'15 & 2-2-'15 aged 21 years. "Our ANZAC" Also his father John Phillip died 1sr May 1918 aged 52 years. Erected by E. Helsham. Also Emalie Helsham beloved wife & mother of the above Died 20th March 1936 aged 75 years. Resting beyond life's sunset. bendigo cemetery, graves, j. george douglas helsham, gallipoli, john phillip helsham, emalie helsham, anzac, world war one, dead man's penny

One page type written document under the heading of the Central Victorian Branch of the National Trust (Victoria). Brief description of the Chapel at Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo, cemetery, chapel

BHS CollectionGreen trifold document: Self guided tour No. 5 of the Bendigo Cemetery, Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries 1998 - 1999' Map of cemetery with numbered graves. Theme 'Heritage all around us'Friends of the Bendigo Cemetery 1998bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery tour

Photocopy of a two page document prepared by Carol Holsworth titled ''Sandstone Tombstones in the Bendigo Cemetery'' The document was prepared to highlight the state of disrepair of some 50 sandstone tombstones in the cemetery. The document list the name, date of death, age and other notes on the tombstones and urge the trustees of the cemetery to take action to preserve them.bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery

BHS CollectionGreen trifold document: Self Guided Tour No. 7 of the Bendigo Cemetery, friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries 2002 - 2003. Theme is tombstones erected not by family but by public subscriptions or through societies. Numbered map showing described grave sites.Friends of Bendigo Cemeteries 2002bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery tour

6 colour photographs: Bendigo Cemetery, April 1991 8A & 8B Cemetery Chapel. 8C Horse hitching posts, Carpenter Street. 8D Rotunda. 8E Cemetery Gates. 8F Decorative Cemetery fence, Carpenter Street.Estelle Hewstonbendigo cemetery. original features. gates. fence. rotunda.

Photograph of the Bendigo Cemetery showing some headstones among the trees. Caretakers' cottage? Chapel?, on the left of the shot with some children and an older man in front. There is a picket fence along the front of the cemetery and a cow standing on the roadway at the right-hand edge of the photo.Batchelderplace, cemetery, carpenter street, bendigo cemetery, batchelder

BHS CollectionGreen trifold document: Self Guided Tour No. 4 of the Bendigo Cemetery, Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries 1997. Map of Bendigo Cemetery with numbered grave sites. Theme : National and religious diversity. Text on back describes how early colonists arrived with different religions, languages, social habits etc Sandhurst Cemetery Register recorded denomination not nationality, but noted if the dead person was coloured.Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries Inc 1997bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery tour

BHS CollectionGreen trifold document: Self guided tour no 2 of the Bendigo Cemetery. Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries. Front cover shows headstone of William J. Trebilcock. Map of cemetery with 28 graves numbered and described e.g. Joel Horwood, wealthy mine owner, Robert Haverfield, founder Bendigo Advertiser, Sir John Quick, Bishop Langley.Friends of Bendigo Cemeteriesbendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery tour

BHS CollectionGreen trifold document: Self Guided Tour No. 6 of the Bendigo Cemetery. Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries 2000 - 2001. Theme : Federation: 100 years later, our Heritage. Map with 26 numbered graves, includes J.C.T. Ballerstedt, Christiana Atkinson ( Dr. Atkinson buried 4 wives in this cemetery ) John Dumphy miner of Hustler's reef, erected by Bendigo Miners Accident Society.Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries Inc 2000bendigo, cemetery, bendigo cemetery tour

BHS CollectionBlue coloured document trifold: Self guided Tour No. 5 of White hills Cemetery, Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries 1998 - 1999Friends of the Bendigo Cemeteries 1998 - 1999bendigo, cemetery, white hills cemetery