Beneath these seemingly ordinary grounds of George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery lies a tapestry of Auckland’s history. It’s a chronicle etched in stone and whispered by the wind. Before it was known as George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery, this land bore other names. It was called Rosebank Road Cemetery. Orchard Street Cemetery was another name. And even Avondale Cemetery.
The George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery received its current name to honor George Maxwell. He was a dedicated parishioner of St. Jude’s Church. Maxwell tirelessly maintained the cemetery until the late 1980s. His dedication ensured its grounds remained a peaceful and respectful place.
The story of George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery begins with Dr. Thomas Aickin. He was a man of both medicine and generosity. Aickin owned a farm here. Tragedy struck when his young son, William, passed away at the tender age of three in 1862. Aickin donated this land. It became a final resting place. William became the first burial here on August 3, 1862. This act of kindness also helped establish an Anglican church in Avondale.
In 1886, ownership shifted to Alan Kerr Taylor, John Bollard, and Matthew Thomas Clayton. They held the land in trust. It was for a cemetery and religious, charitable, and educational causes. This commitment was formalized in a Deed of Conveyance. The Deed was dated July 12, 1886. It is registered at the Deeds Office in Auckland. Later, in 1958, Harold Bollard, the last member of the Cemetery Trust Board, appointed the General Trust Board of the Diocese of Auckland as trustees.
George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery is the final home to several notable figures. Among them is Dr. Thomas Aickin. He donated the land. He also served as the second resident surgeon. He was superintendent at the Auckland Asylum from 1869 to 1878. John Bollard, a Minister of Parliament for Eden until 1914, also rests here. Furthermore, Dr. Daniel Pollen is buried here. He served as Colonial Secretary from 1873 to 1877. He then became Colonial Premier from 1875 to 1876.
The early records of George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery are incomplete. Some records were lost. Some may never have existed. Weather and time took their toll. Wooden crosses deteriorated and vanished. In 1965, a survey was conducted. The information was recorded in a burial record book. It was kept at Battersby’s Funeral Services. Then, in April 1980, the N.Z. Society of Genealogists conducted an updated survey. This survey included headstone transcripts. These results were shared. They were lodged with Battersby’s. They were also lodged with St. Jude’s Church. Auckland Public Library received the results. The Archives of the Auckland Diocesan Church Office also received them. Several copies went to the N.Z. Society of Genealogists.
Today, George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery stands as a testament to lives lived. It is a place of remembrance. It connects us to the past. The cemetery is a reminder of community. It embodies compassion. It began with a father’s sorrow. It evolved into a place of rest for generations.