The old section of Corryong cemetery – now known as the Corryong Pioneer Memorial Cemetery – which served Corryong and the Upper Murray district, holds its fair share of saints, strugglers, vagabonds and rough diamonds.

Following on from the success of the Upper Murray Historical Society’s 2018 Cemetery Walk it has been decided to repeat the event this year, following interruptions by bushfire and a pandemic.

The Historical Society and Man from Snowy River Museum Committee invites the community to join them on the afternoon of Sunday May 7th at 2pm for an interesting and informative tip-toe through the tombstones to be followed by a cuppa and nibbles at the Corryon RSL Hall.

The original government-sanctioned cemetery, the Towong Cemetery, was surveyed off in 1861 and has been known alternatively as the Towong Cemetery, the Gravels Plain Cemetery, the Tintaldra Cemetery and Millers Hill Cemetery. Many of the district’s original pioneers are buried there.

During earlier times and even after the Towong Cemetery was founded, some of those pioneers, kin and others were buried on the properties and squatting runs where they lived and worked. Why break up families in death?

Those who haplessly died by misadventure in remote areas or in isolated bush huts were more often than not buried on the spot by the local constabulary after a cursory and often very hurried post mortem. As was usually the case when their bodies were eventually discovered, they were not in a fit condition to remove. This very unpleasant task fell on the town’s first policeman, Senior Constable Robinson, on a number of occasions.It was not until some 14 years after the township of Corryong was established that the resting place of our pioneers and their families was relocated.

The original cemetery was deemed somewhat remote from the developing settlement that was fast growing to become the centre of the district. This move was not officially approved or planned.

The Corryong Pioneer Cemetery, was “unofficially” established in 1889 when a grief-stricken father forced the situation after his son Albert Edward Gerecke tragically died at the young age of nine. Rather than having him interred far from his family’s abode, the bereaved father carried the boy up onto the ridge overlooking the fledgling town and buried him there in the hard granite soil.

Other graves quickly followed and the government’s hand was soon forced to have the area surveyed off and gazetted for legal burials. After the cemetery was firmly established a number of graves were exhumed at Millers Hill and relocated to the new site.

The Corryong Pioneer Cemetery, in accordance with the tradition of the times, was divided into five sections – Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and Others or Unknowns. Separate in worship and separate in death.

“On May 7th we expect to cover six or so graves and their occupants and as like the last walk we conducted, we promise an interesting mix of personalities,” said walk organiser, John Murphy.

“There will be time allocated for a few questions at the end of each discourse. If interested stick this date in your diary!”

Bookings are required for catering purposes – contact the Man from Snowy River Museum on 02 6076 2600 between the hours of 10am and 4pm.

Wear clothing appropriate for the day and bring a chair if required. 

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 20 April 2023.