Consider this a journey back to Queensland’s early days. We’re standing at the Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery Plaque. This place marks the final resting spot for some of Cleveland’s first settlers.
The Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery is more than just a park today. It holds stories of the people who shaped this region. Imagine Cleveland in the mid-1800s. It was a budding township hoping to become a major port. This cemetery became its first burial ground in 1858.
The land for the Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery was surveyed in December 1858. It was divided into sections for different religious groups. Church of England Presbyterians and Roman Catholics all had their place. Even Jews and other denominations were accounted for. By 1864 Cleveland’s population was just 145. Most were labourers farmers or timber-getters.
However the cemetery’s location proved problematic. The soil was swampy. By 1873 it was deemed unsuitable for burials. A new cemetery was established across Wellington Street.
Eleven burials are identified at the Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery. These took place between 1858 and 1873. Among them was Bridget Clary a child who died in 1860. Emily Hobbs also passed away in 1860. Arthur Sidney Lyon rests here. He was a journalist and editor who died in 1861. William Henry Sherrin another child was buried here in 1864.
Arthur Sidney Lyon stands out. He is known as the Father of the Queensland Press. Lyon co-founded the Moreton Bay Courier in 1846. It later became The Courier-Mail. He also ran other newspapers like the Moreton Bay Free Press. Sadly the memorial stone here incorrectly names him Sydney Arthur Lyons.
The exact number of burials here remains a mystery. It is also unknown if any bodies were moved to the new cemetery.
Over time the land changed. By 1903 it was divided into lots. A survey plan from that year shows 23 lines within the cemetery. These could indicate the presence of graves.
In 1905 the land was to be sold. Cleveland Shire Council objected to selling the cemetery land. They felt it should be preserved. The council continued to object to the land being leased. Finally in 1937 a cemetery reserve was officially established.
In 1975 Merv Beitz a teacher erected a memorial. His students helped him. It lists the names of ten people buried here. The Redland Shire Council provided the plaque. At that time no headstones remained.
Today Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery is Scott Street Park. It is a grassy area with large eucalyptus trees. You won’t find headstones here now. A mound runs through the park. It likely marks the installation of underground services. A playground sits in the southeast corner.
Adjacent to Lisa Street, the memorial plaque stands. It commemorates the early burials. The plaque sits on a white concrete base surrounded by a white picket fence. It reads In Memory of Some 25 Pioneers Resting Here.
The Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery is a Queensland Heritage Register site. It represents an important part of the state’s history. It was the first cemetery in the Redlands mainland area. It is the burial site of Arthur Sidney Lyon. The Father of the Queensland Press rests here. The memorial stone shows the community’s ongoing connection to this place.
Archaeological investigations could reveal more about the site. They might uncover the exact location and number of burials. These investigations could also provide insights into early settlement social structures and burial practices. The Cleveland Pioneer Cemetery holds secrets of Queensland’s past.