Cemeteries

Woronora Memorial Park

Also known as Woronora Cemetery & Crematorium

Just two block from Sutherland Station is Woronora Cemetery. Often it was referred to as Sutherland Cemetery for obvious reasons. In 2015 it was renamed Woronora Memorial Park.

The land had been a small brickworks until 1890 and then the area was seen by some local businessmen as being ideal for a race course. However trustees for the land thought otherwise and the land was gazetted as a General Cemetery for all denominations on the 2nd April 1895.

A group of Trustees was appointed by the Crown Lands Department and the cemetery remains under this system today.

The first burial took place the day before the Cemetery was officially decreed on the first of April 1895. There are some graves with headstones showing date of death prior to 1895 for in 1902 the Devonshire Street Cemetery was closed and graves removed to make way for the new Central Railway Station. Some of  the bodies were relocated to Woronora.

The rail line to Sutherland was in operation and the station opened in 1885. A short rail line from Sutherland Station to the Cemetery was completed on 30th June 1900 and operated until 1947. The Cemetery Station was located where the administration building is today. Funeral trains ran from Central Station.

The Crematorium was officially opened on the 21st April 1934 and the first cremation 4 days later. The original cremators are no longer used. The building was completely re-furbished in 2022 & brought up to modern standard while maintaining the original Art Deco style of the 1930's.

Monumental & Lawn Areas

Up until the 1950's graves were usually surrounded by kerbing with a headstone attached. Around this time the lawn cemetery concept was introduced with a plain flat bronze plaque. In the 1970's above ground entombment was introduced.

In 2013, a new concept of interlocking pre-cast geopolymer “concrete” graves was established at the Cedar Lawn section. This system provides a more sustainable and “green” approval to burial.

Crematorium Areas

As well as many rose gardens, several niche buildings were constructed, the Garden Court in 1949 followed by the Floral Court in the 1950’s, the Palm Court in 1964 and the largest, the Centenary Court was opened in 1995 as part of the cemetery’s centenary celebrations. There are also “Walls of Memories”, with niches located adjacent to the rose garden areas and in, and around the crematorium building environs.

A Changing World – a Memorial Park

As community needs evolved, many many new areas were developed within the Woronora Cemetery grounds, including Karinya the Children’s Garden created in 2007, and the Garden of Angels to help families with the loss of babies stillborn or during pregnancy, in 2010. The Doorway of Hope was also also opened in 2010 to help mourners grieve the life of someone reported missing.

The Gardens of the Pieta mausoleum opened in 2012 and Stations of the Cross precinct in 2013. Crypts of Christ the Redeemer complex offers above ground placement and is non-denominational.

Woronora’s Military Memorial was officially opened on the 6th August 2015, at the same time the battle of Gallipoli commenced 100 years earlier. It features details of the Gallipoli campaign and details of Victoria Cross recipients with a grave or memorial in Woronora grounds.

A Police Memorial dedicated to those who lost their life while on duty was also dedicated in 2015. Most of those listed on the memorial also have individual graves or memorials within the cemetery

The Cemetery is very pro-active within the community and  holds specific bereavement services, as well as open days, and Christmas carols.

Links:

Cemetery Website:

http://www.smcnsw.org.au/woronora/home

Findagrave-Woronora:

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2129856/woronora-memorial-park

Australian Cemetery Index:

http://www.austcemindex.com/?cemetery=woronora&state=NSW

References:

Woronora Publications News sheets and website

Wikipedia