What if these remnants could talk? Cemetery Station No. 1 whispers tales of a solemn past. This was a key part of the Rookwood Cemetery railway line. It operated from 1867 to 1948. Cemetery Station No. 1 served Rookwood Cemetery.
Imagine funeral processions arriving here. Before Cemetery Station No. 1, things were less dignified. The original stations had corrugated iron and timber structures. In 1868, a plan was made to separate funeral operations from regular rail traffic. The construction of Cemetery Station No. 1 started inside the Necropolis.
Initially, this station was named Haslem’s Creek Cemetery. That was on April 1, 1867. Before 1872, it became Necropolis. Later, it was Mortuary Terminus. On July 26, 1897, its name changed to Mortuary General Cemetery. This name then moved to the new terminus which later became Cemetery Station No. 3. Finally, on June 15, 1908, it took its final name. Cemetery Station No. 1 closed on December 29, 1948.
James Barnet oversaw the architectural design. He was the New South Wales Government Architect. The sandstone station building had wide platforms. It also had a ticket office and retiring rooms. A carriage port added to its grandeur.
Sculptors Thomas Ducket and Henry Apperly worked on ornate details. They created angels, cherubs, and foliage carvings. Flowers, pears, and pomegranates adorned the station. Cumberland pottery created black and white floor tiles. These tiles formed tessellated patterns on the floors.
The Cemetery Station No. 1 building created a tunnel effect. It spanned the railway line terminus. The structure covered 35 by 13 meters. It stood approximately 6 meters high. Twelve columns supported it. Arches at each end were approximately 12 meters high. They were 13 meters wide at the base. Two angels decorated the northern arch. One held a scroll with closed eyes. The other held a trumpet looking down the railway line.
A bell-cote housed a bell. This bell warned passengers of departure times. Some say the bell rang upon each train’s arrival. It rang 30 minutes before departure between 1910 and 1920. Then it rang again five minutes before leaving.
After its closure, Cemetery Station No. 1 was dismantled. In 1958, it moved to Canberra. It became All Saints Church. The rebuilt church has some modifications. The bell tower is now on the opposite side.
In the middle of 2000, restoration work began at Rookwood Cemetery. The original pathways were improved. The foundations of the platform were uncovered. Workers indicated the locations of structural columns. The pathways were re-graveled. A signpost now calls it No. 1 Mortuary Receiving Station. It notes building work started on April 14, 1867, and finished August 10, 1869.
Today, you see remnants of Cemetery Station No. 1. Imagine the trains that once carried mourners and coffins. This site offers a glimpse into Sydney’s funerary past. It connects us to the stories of those who traveled this line. The echoes of the bell and the solemn atmosphere linger. Cemetery Station No. 1 remains a poignant reminder of life death and remembrance.