Maps. Two maps of Bendigo Cemetery. (a) Bendigo Cemetery produced by Bendigo Cemeteries Trust. (b) Bendigo Remembrance Park produced by Remembrance Parks Central Victoria.map, bendigo, bendigo cemetery and remembrance park

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 brochure from Remembrance Parks Central Victoria. Garden of Angels Official Opening, International pregnancy and infant loss remembrance day 15 October 2016. Bendigo Remembrance Park.bendigo, cemetery, garden of angels

Brochure. Bendigo Remembrance Parks Notable Graves Tour Brochure.document, memo, brochure

The Galatea was a British ship built in 1859. In 1866, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh and the son of Queen Victoria, was given command of the ship. He travelled on it to Australia for a Royal Tour in 1867. A procession was held in his honour in Bendigo. Later that evening a large model of his ship was drawn down Pall Mall towards the Shamrock Hotel where there was to be a fireworks display. As well as 2 adults, 9 young boys were on the float, taking the part of seamen. About halfway down Pall Mall, a cracker, thrown from the crowd ignited the fireworks that were on the deck of the float, causing explosions and fire. Three boys, John Langton McGrath (aged 7), Sylvester Francis Cahill (aged 9) and Thomas Michael Walters (aged 10) later died from burns received in the explosion. Public subscriptions purchased the memorial that stands over their grave at the Bendigo Cemetery.50 years since the accidental death of three boys (John Langton McGrath, Sylvester Francis Cahill & Thomas Michael Walters) burned on the model ship "The Galatia" 18 December 2017Newspaper article undated or attributed for the noting the Galatea Tragedy for the death of three young boys on Monday 18th December 1867 - 2017; commemorating 150 years since the death of three young boys all accidentally burned on the model ship "The Galatea" during the visit to Sandhurst by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh on Wednesday 18th December 1867. commemorative bookle, the galatia accidental deaths