by Pam Willis Burden

The Port Douglas cemetery has got a story to tell, and to commemorate Australian Heritage Week 2012, the Historical Society is inviting you to join Stephen Oldham of Crimmins Funerals on a guided walk to share its secrets.

Although Stephen has not lived in the district for long, he is enthralled by our history and excited to be leading this walking tour. He will be ably assisted by members of the Historical Society.

The first burial at the cemetery was on 22nd June 1878, of George Freshney who died aged 21 years. This was not long after Port Douglas was established.

William Thomson died in 1886, believed to be murdered by his wife Ellen, who was the only woman ever hanged in Queensland. Her family is now seeking her pardon.

Catherine Carstens died in 1895. Her husband’s second wife Pauline erected the monument in Macrossan Street in memory of Frederick who was a ‘champion of the Mossman tramway’.

Unfortunately, Frederick’s grave was one of many desecrated in 2004 and a new angel now replaces his damaged one.

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Also in the cemetery are two men who were killed in the March 1911 cyclone. 

Pioneers of the Mowbray and Mossman districts are buried here too, because the Mossman cemetery was not opened until the 1930s.  And many people were interred on their properties.

The old Port Douglas cemetery, also in Davidson Street but closer to Macrossan Street, does not have any marked graves and is thought to have been used for a few deaths at the Port Douglas Hospital which was behind where the Beach Club now stands.

This once-only Historic Walk will begin in the cool of the morning, at 9.15am on Sunday 22 April and will take approximately two hours. The Historical Society looks forward to many people from our community coming along, and bringing their kids to learn more about our pioneers and their contribution to our district.

For more information please call Pam on 0418 960 888.