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Rutherglen’s Two Historic Carlyle Cemeteries

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Rutherglen’s Two Historic Carlyle Cemeteries

Group guidelines are that we ask you to be respectful, mindful of people's feelings and understand that in grief people respond to loss in different ways.

Friends of Rutherglen Historic Carlyle Cemetery is a page formed to encourage people to share information and their passionate interest in the history of Rutherglen associated with these two iconic cemeteries. As a volunteer group we do not represent the administration, governance or general upkeep of the cemetery. We hope to inform and assist people with our sources through a variety of research available to us. For additional information and assistance there are the following organisations that may assist :

Rutherglen Library (please check opening hours) High Street Rutherglen
Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre Corner Main and Murray Valley Highway

27/08/2026

Carlyle Pioneer Cemetery – Carlyle Road Carlyle

Infant Alfred Mitchell (jnr) born in 1859 died 27th. of January 1861.

Alfred Mitchell, the child of Alfred Mitchell snr. and Lucy Sheppard had been born at the Indigo Goldfield. His parents Alfred and Lucy had married at Beechworth in 1858 and migrated along the various goldfields that sprung up at Yackandandah, Chiltern (Indigo Diggings) and Rutherglen (Wahgunyah Diggings). They were both noted on the death certificate for little Alfred as being Grocers.

Many businesses sprung up on the goldfields as there was opportunity for hardworking and enterprising people. At the time of Alfred’s death, the family were living at Wahgunyah.

Alfred was only two years old when he succumbed to pneumonia and fever, suffering for two weeks. Dr. John Dempster was looking after him across this time and sadly he did not recover which was all too common with children in that era.

The burial took place the next day after Alfred’s death and was organized by the undertaker Mr. Edwin Clark who also acted as the registry informant. There was no minister residing over the burial and three Rutherglen town notaries attended as witnesses on the occasion, being Mr. Scott, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Ruche.

Some time later the Mitchell family settled at Norong farming and developing their vineyard, initially 4 acres and described as being east of the Black Dog Creek. The family went on to have a number of children with many of their descendants remaining in the area today.

Alfred's parents, Alfred and Lucy are buried with wider Mitchell family members in the family burial lot at the Carlyle Cemetery along Distillery Road.

26/08/2026

Carlyle Cemetery Distillery Road via Rutherglen.
Bullocky George- accidental drowning in the Murray River.

It is unknown when and where Bullocky George was born. He died on 2nd. of January 1881 at approx.1pm.

Bullocky George had been a farm hand working at various properties in and around Norong, Dugays and along the Black Dog Creek. At the time of his death, he had been working at the Jones farm on the Black Dog Creek. Whilst he was known to many his real name wasn’t apparent, and he was simply referred to as Bullocky George.

On Sunday the 2nd of January 1881 George accompanied by a man called Williams went to a point in the Murray, a spot referred to as Martell’s, being Martell’s Wine Shack, for a swim and to bathe. He was swimming in the deep part of the river near the Victorian side of the bank and got into difficulties. He called out to his friend Williams that he was drowning, disappeared under the water and did not re-surface. Williams looked for him to no avail, so he then went to The Wahgunyah Police Station and reported the event to Senior Constable James Percy.

Senior Constable Percy set about searching and dragging the river but did not initially recover the body. Later that afternoon he managed to find George’s body 3 miles from where he had initially gone under the water. He believed Bullocky George to have been a recent goldminer having come from one of the local goldfields and now having turned his hand to farm labouring. Many goldminers drifted around the area and took up other work. Some were escaping their past lives, and some reinvented themselves and their names. Despite his efforts around the district, he could not find anyone to confirm Bullocky George's real identity. Mr. Jones, where George had been working identified him as the person working at the farm and also identified the clothing which was recovered from the spot where he had been bathing and swimming.

Once George’s body was recovered it was transported to the morgue at the Victoria Hotel awaiting an inquest. On the 8th of January 1881, a jury panel and Justice of the Peace William Foster presided over the inquest and determined the Bullocky George whilst swimming in the Murray had met his death through accidental drowning.

Bullocky George was buried the same day as the inquest, the 8th January 1881 at the Carlyle Cemetery Rutherglen by undertaker C. Anderson, assisted and witnessed by Charles Gold. Sadly, there may have been wider family and friends somewhere that never got to know of his demise.

Cemetery records indicate no lot number for the burial, so it is uncertain where at Carlyle George was buried and within what compartment. However, we do know he was buried there but sadly it looks like we will never uncover who he was and where he originated from.

23/07/2026

Mrs. M. M. Burrows (b.1818-d.1870) and Mr. Thomas Burrows/Burris (b.1807 approx.-d.1860)

The Wahgunyah Mass Tree
There is a substantial red gum at the bottom of Short Street Wahgunyah known as the Mass Tree accompanied with an inscribed plaque stating, "Mrs M.M. Burrows prepared the altar in her tent at this tree for the first mass said in Wahgunyah about 1869 by the Very Rev. Dean Tierney, P.P. Beechworth".

Margaret Burrows (Burris) nee Roche
Margaret Mary Roche was born in Kilkenny Ireland in 1818 and married her first husband Thomas Doyle at Kilkenny in 1838. Together they had two sons, Thomas, and John Doyle. Husband Thomas Doyle died at Kilkenny and Margaret, by then in her late 30’s re-married a Thomas Burris (surname later renamed as Burrows), also from Kilkenny.

Husband Thomas Burris was 49yo at the time of his marriage to Margaret. Together they immigrated to Australia in 1855. Twins John and William Burris were born at the Gooramadda Station near Wahgunyah in 1858 and daughter Mary Burris was born at Wangaratta in 1860. Thomas Burris, a blacksmith by trade, was working for J. Lindsay Brown at the Gooramadda Station Run.
Thomas Burris died at 54 years of age on the 7th of November 1860 at Wahgunyah from morbus cordis (heart disease) and is interred at the original Pioneer Carlyle Cemetery along Carlyle Road. It was not a religious burial with Joseph Jackson undertaker and Mrs. Burris being witnesses to the burial.

After the death of Thomas Burris, Margaret coined the surname Burrows thereafter. Margaret Burrows continued along with the help of her two older adult Doyle sons, both living and working at Wahgunyah. Thereafter her husband ‘s passing she appeared to devote herself to religion thus her efforts towards the preparation for the first mass to be held at Wahgunyah by the V.Rev. Tierney in 1869.

The next year in 1870 sees Margaret Burrows at 52 years passing away on the 1st. of October in tragic circumstances through drowning in Sunday Creek. The inquest and death registration record Margaret as having suffered temporary insanity at the time of her drowning. Her son John Doyle stated that his mother had been somewhat distressed about a pending court appearance whereby she was facing charges for defacing government property. He stated that the situation was playing on her mind, and she was not herself. He also stated at the time of her disappearance and subsequent drowning she had been sober all day. There were no other references indicating Margaret was intemperate. Constable Gribble, Wahgunyah Mounted Policeman and George Ellis bridge toll collector had assisted in looking for Margaret and then with others recovering her body in Sunday Creek.

Margaret is buried at the Carlyle Cemetery along Distillery Road Wahgunyah, within the Roman Catholic compartment with no grave lot recorded for the specific burial location.

Today there are still a number of Burris-Burrows family descendants in and around the district.

26/06/2026

Driver Allan James SMITH number 421, WW1
Carlyle Cemetery Distillery Road via Rutherglen.

Allan James Smith was born at Stawell Victoria in 1896 to parents Thomas Smith and Daisy Edhouse. His birth registration has him registered as James Allan so Allan may have been the preferential name he chose to go by .

Driver Smith enlisted for service in the ‘Great War’ – WW1 AIF in 1914 and served on the Gallipoli Peninsular, followed by service on the Western Front. Whilst serving at Gallipoli Driver Smith started to experience illness relating to bronchial and pulmonary issues and thereafter when serving on the Western front was taken ill and spent time hospitalised in England. He was eventually diagnosed with vascular disease of the heart.

Driver Smith served with the 1st Divisional Train - 4th Coy, AASC which provided logistical support and supply to units. Without such there was no combat support to the troops on the ground such as ammunition, food, water, equipment, relaying baggage etc. The Division Trains were essential to the campaign, and it was physically hard, dirty, and never ending work back and forth.
Driver Smith was eventually repatriated to Australia towards the end of 1916 and discharged due to his increased illness and disability. He married Ethel Crump in 1919 and the couple initially settled in Hawthorn Victoria. Together the couple had two girls. During this timeframe Allan Smith worked as a clerk.

In 1924 Allan Smith took up the position of Shire Secretary for the Rutherglen Council and Secretary of the Rutherglen Water Trust. Both roles were demanding, and he was reported to have been very capable, reliable, and produced significant outcomes. He was both well liked and respected.

In August 1927 and when his wife Ethel was visiting friends in South Australia, Allan took ill. He had experienced episodes of illness from time to time but always rallied and kept on with his demanding schedule and role within he shire. During his wife’s absence, he had been staying at the Rutherglen Hotel when suddenly taking ill early on Wednesday morning 27th August where he was cared for by Dr. Uglow, publican Mrs. McKay and assisted by Mrs.Clune. Allan died later that day.

Friends made the burial arrangements, and the interment took place on Friday 19th August with a service undertaken at St. Stephens Church.

Driver Allan James Smith is interred within the Church of England compartment at Carlyle Cemetery and has an Imperial War Graves commemoration which was undertaken in 1947 on behalf of family.
Lest We Forget.

16/06/2026

The Sad Case of Charles Browne – Immigrant from Sweden
Charles sadly died in his fishing hut at Lake Moodemere on the 27th of July 1861

Not much is known about Charles and noted on his death registration at Wahgunyah he supposedly arrived in the colony of Victoria 9 years previous to his death. The registration noted that he was from Stockholm Sweden and 38 years old.

Further research shows Charles didn’t arrive 9 years prior to his death, shipping records state he arrived on 8 January 1856 aboard the La Hogue via London to Sydney. The vessel was trading out of Stockholm and Charles is annotated in the shipping log as crew and an Able Seaman. It also states at the time of arrival in 1856 he was 32 years of age and a native of Stockholm.

His arrival coincides with the mining rush of the Ovens, Beechworth, Indigo, and later Wahgunyah goldfields. There were work opportunities for people aside from mining and this encouraged masses to descend upon the goldfields areas in the 1850’s and 1860’s. Many mariners jumped ship on arrival at the various Australian ports, gold being the temptation.

Many people of all nations utilised Lake Moodemere as a fishing ground, for bathing and as a trading place. With the local Indigenous people moving back and forth across the Murray their exposure to many different cultures and nationalities was fast occurring and impacting significantly upon their lives.

Charles Browne had been in the company of a Mr. James Bassett Benallack, also a fisherman and the pair had been fishing in and around the Ovens, Murray, and Lake Moodemere locations.
According to the inquest details they had been mates for a period of three weeks only and had been drinking hard and fast over this time. Leading up to Charles death it was stated in the coroner’s inquest that the drinking had increased somewhat, hence resulting in fatal consequences for Charles.

Dr. Hallett determined he had died from a brain inflammation primarily and induced by excessive alcohol, however he did note at autopsy Charles had other underlying conditions and an intestinal cancerous presence was documented. This is a sad end for a person arriving in the colony, most probably with high hopes of a new and prosperous life.

Somewhere across the other side of the world there would have been somebody who missed Charles and wondered what ever became of him after his arrival in Australia! They may not have known he disembarked in Australia and stayed.

Charles is one of the many we are discovering through registrations that had been buried in the original Carlyle Pioneer Cemetery that closed in 1865 and was lost in time until very recently.

11/06/2026

Henry (Harry) Jones – Infant
Carlyle Old Pioneer Cemetery – Carlyle Road via Rutherglen 1861

Four year old Harry Jones died at Rutherglen on the 15th of August 1861. He had been born in Beechworth on the 21st of May 1857 and his parents Richard Jones and Sarah Elizabeth Clisby Jones were confectioners and bakers on the goldfield.

As gold was struck at the Indigo and then Rutherglen the Jones family moved from Beechworth to follow the trade trend. They settled at Rutherglen in early 1861 at the onset of the gold boom and father Richard baked and sold various confectionary to the newly established township and expanding gold leads, mining camps and small settlements.

Young Harry had been suffering badly with croup for three days and had been visited by Dr. Hallett a day before he passed away on the 15th of August. The informant of his death was undertaker Edwin Carter who also arranged for the burial and attending minister. On the 18th of August 1861 little Harry was buried by Edwin Carter and Hugh Brown with Reverend Price overseeing the burial rites. Now 165 years thereafter we are able to know of Harry, his family, and a little about his short life.

Harry also had a little sister born in 1866 who died at one day old. She was unnamed and is buried at the later Carlyle Cemetery along Distillery Road. There is no known grave lot nor are there any registration records of her burial in the cemetery register. However her details are registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages Vic as being buried there.

The child mortality numbers across the many goldfield towns of the era were significant and given the rudimentary medicine and practices available at the time, many little ones perished. The Jones family is one of many that suffered multiple deaths of little babies and infants.

Harry’s mother Sarah died at Beechworth in 1875 while the family was living along Camp Street and running their business. In 1876 Richard remarried Harriet Jones and together they went on to have more children. Richard died in 1896 and is buried at Beechworth. Some time ago, descendants erected a headstone for Richard which recorded both Sarah and Harriet as his spouses. Harriet, Richard’s second wife was considerably younger than her husband and lived a long life until her passing in 1945.

28/05/2026

National Volunteers Week- Last Week May 18 to 24th 2026

Thought we’d extend our thanks to the many volunteers in and around Rutherglen. There’s a couple of hundred of you at the least covering many diverse roles, functions and much needed contributions. These very contributions make Rutherglen such a special place to live and visit. They save local government, our local council, money and resources because volunteers contribute much willingly.

Last week, National Volunteers Week was signified by council through lighting up the Beechworth Precinct and publicising it digitally.

We’d like to give a more personal and connective thank you to each and every individual and group that volunteers tirelessly in and around the Rutherglen area. We work with some of you and your dedication and help in sharing your skills with other groups and volunteers is amazing.

A town icon resonates more with the specific town its volunteers contribute towards. So here’s our grand old bottle tipping its lid to you all as a sign of respect and appreciation for the many hours of dedication and commitment you put in year in and out.

Thank you - volunteers are gold!

19/05/2026

THE NICHOLLS BABIES – THE WOOLSHED AND INDIGO BURIAL GROUNDS

When looking at families that lived and worked upon the goldfields around this area you can follow their trail at times through the loss of family members. Life was very harsh living and working the leads. Living conditions were rudimentary and primitive with exposure to the weather significant both in summer and winter.

Many small children and newborns did not survive these conditions and illnesses were rife amongst the population, at times affecting the mothers also. Sadly, when looking at families here in Rutherglen and on the Indigo it was sorrowful to see the loss of little babies and infants, the Nicholls family being one of many affected.

Francis Bove Nicholls and his wife Matilda Bryant were one such couple. They had married at Beechworth in 1856 by special license conducted by Reverend M. Symons. Matilda (nee Bryant) was 15 years, and the groom Francis was 28 years of age. Matilda’s family were at the Ovens Diggings with her father having been an early settler in the colony of NSW and residing near Sydney, then relocating when gold was discovered at Stanley and Beechworth.

The Unnamed Babe – The Woolshed Graveyard (also known as Reid’s Creek Burial Ground)

Matilda and Francis moved from one area to the next when new goldfields were discovered. Initially they were at The Woolshed, near Reid’s Creek area. Tragically this is where their first child, unnamed was born and died. He was only 2 days old when he passed away on the 8/8/1857 at the Woolshed Diggings. This little baby was buried at the Woolshed Graveyard by undertaker James Keeble a busy undertaker across the various goldfield areas. The Woolshed Graveyard has now been lost in time, little historical reference, and limited documentation as to its location and burial names. Fortunately, miners historically across the years have noted this graveyard on the various goldfield maps and trails. People living in the area near the location have also been generationally aware that a graveyard was once in existence at the Woolshed Falls area. Today there is no trace, no signage, nor barely any historical references to its early existence (1850-1858 approx.).

Baby Francis – The Indigo Goldfields Cemetery near Chandlers Track Chiltern Forest.

After mining at the Woolshed Matilda and Francis drifted down to the Indigo Diggings where gold had been proclaimed in 1858. Baby Francis was born on the Indigo and died there on the 14/11/1858. He was only 2 hours old. He was buried at the Indigo Goldfields Cemetery, also buried by the same undertaker as his brother at Woolshed, James Keeble.

The Nicholls family eventually relocated again following the gold trail to NSW up in the Parkes region, whilst Matilda Bryant’s family remained in and around the Chiltern and Barnawartha areas.

Life on the goldfields was tragic upon reflection and there must be many unmarked and forgotten cemeteries dotted across the landscape. To find their information and location is worthy work, especially when their descendants come looking for their ancestral footprints from so very long ago.

05/05/2026

INFANTICIDE AT RUTHERGLEN

NEW BORN BABE FOUND IN THE SCRUB - MARCH 1861

On Monday eve 5th March 1861 a dead female new born babe was found on the outskirts of Rutherglen by Mr. Casgha, residing in his tentage amongst scrubland on his property near Nash’s Road.
The babe’s remains had been disturbed by wildlife, a calico bag was found nearby and beads and a ribbon were placed at a tree where the infant was found near.

Constables McCoppin and McGaffin attended as did Dr. Dempsey who ascertained the infant had been born alive but had sustained some type of trauma and been interfered with by wildlife.

A Magisterial Inquiry held on the 8th of March 1861 returned an open verdict as to the cause of the baby’s death and she was was then interred at the original Carlyle Pioneer Cemetery, sadly with no other details that may give a name to this child.

The Age Newspaper, 'Infanticide at Rutherglen' Friday 8/3/1861 pg. 5.

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Distillery Road, Via Rutherglen VIC 3685
Wahgunyah, VIC
3687

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