On the 10th November 1855 a meeting was held at the Race Course Hotel, Ceres, to discuss the establishment of a cemetery!

Early settlers had established vineyards, sheep farms, quarrying and cropping. Of the 220 original families to settle the area, 52 (almost a quarter) came from the south western counties of England (Devon, Cornwell, and Somerset); 48 from the other English counties, 36 from Switzerland; 24 from Scotland and 60 from Ireland.

The Trust applied for a Government grant which enabled a Sexton’s office to be built, fences and gates erected and insurance against bushfires! No doubt the horror of Black Thursday 1850, still fresh in residents’ minds!

Cemetery Motto – 1855
“Our God is the God of Salvation And unto God the Lord, Belong the Issues from Death”.

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