CEMETERY

The graveyard is central to the English village charm of our parish site.  It is an historic place, which also continues to be available for new interments.  St Jude’s may be the last place in Sydney where a funeral procession can move from the church door directly to the church yard for the burial.

During Spring, the wildflowers are left to grow and make a lovely display of a number of rare plants.

The cemetery opens daily at approximately 9:30 am and closes at 4:00 pm.

Columbarium

The columbarium, which was opened in 1956, is at the far end of the path which extends from the cemetery gates towards The Avenue.  It is an attractive and peaceful place where the ashes of loved ones can be interred.  Niches in the columbarium are available to anyone in the community (there is no requirement to be a church member).

Memorial Garden

Since 2006 St Jude’s has made available a Memorial Garden off the Northern entrance to the Columbarium.  Here ashes can be placed in the garden and an inscription made on a small plaque on the garden edging.  This provides a pleasant garden space for the ashes of loved ones, and is available to the whole community.

Ashes in Old Graves

Ashes of direct relatives may be placed in older grave sites with permission from any next of kin and the Parish Council.

As with all burial areas here, the wording must be in keeping with the Christian nature of the cemetery.

Grave Sites

Because of their limited numbers, grave sites are available to regular parishioners.  They can be applied for, through written application to the Rector and Parish Council, and reserved on the cemetery plan.

As the site is a Heritage listed site, all monuments constructed have to be approved by both the Heritage Council and the Parish Council.

Costs (as of MAY 2023)

Columbarium

$1,760 – (plus plaque and fitting)

Memorial Garden

$2,200 – (plus plaque and fitting)

Grave Sites

POA – (plus monumentation)

Ashes in Older Grave sites

$2,200 – (plus plaque and fitting)

At present interments are presumed to be perpetual (PC to consider limited time interments).

To enquire about purchasing a place, please contact the church office.

Plaque specifications

Plaques for the Columbarium and Memorial Garden must be made as follows:

Columbarium, Blocks A-H (Niches 1-1116): Silver coloured, 134 mm x 95 mm

Columbarium, Blocks I-J (Niches 1117-1476): Cast bronze, 134 mm x 95 mm

Memorial Garden: Cast bronze, 120 mm x 80 mm

AROUND ST JUDE'S CEMETERY

Our cemetery is a remarkably peaceful oasis, in which you are welcome to walk and explore. It is also rich in history.  During the second half of the nineteenth century, it became the burial ground for some very well-known people of the colony. Amongst these were:

Jane Barker – Wife of Bishop Barker, being the founder of St. Catherine’s School, Waverley.

Sir Frederick William Pottinger, Baronet, who led an unusual and colourful life as a New South Wales Police Officer, after a career in England in the Grenadier Guards. The original “blind Freddie” who lost Ben Hall the Bushranger. (Wikipedia entry)

Sir Alfred Stephen, Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of the colony and his son, the Rev. Alfred Stephen. (Wikipedia entry)

Sir Edward Deas Thomson, Colonial Secretary and son-in-law of Governor Bourke. (Wikipedia entry)

Mrs. Ann Hordern, wife of Anthony Hordern, matriarch of Retail dynasty

Sir Edward Knox (Wikipedia entry)

Henry Mort, and members of the Mort family.

Charles D’Arcy Wentworth

Alexander Playfair, and members of the Playfair family

H. Hollingsworth

Archdeacon Cowper – Rector of St Phillip’s Church, Sydney (Wikipedia entry)

Alfred Cheeke (Wikipedia entry)

Terence Aubrey Murray, President of the Legislative Council of N.S.W. (Wikipedia entry)

Daintrey Family grave

John Edward Irwin, first commander of the N.S.W. Naval Brigade

Miss Mary Ann Flower, Governess to Governor Fitzroy’s family

Sir James Martin, a Chief-Justice of N.S.W. (Wikipedia entry)

Sir William Manning, Attorney-General, Supreme Court Judge and Chancellor of Sydney University

Archibald Mosman, after whom the suburb of Mosman is named

Thomas Ware Smart, member of Legislative Council of New South Wales

Robert Johnson, member of Legislative Council of New South Wales

Obed West, prominent historian of Old Sydney

Simeon Pearce, the “father of Randwick”, and members of the Pearce family

Benjamin Darley, founder of the Sydney Stock Exchange

William Busby, overseer of Busby’s Bore Project

Helen Christina Morehead (Great Aunt of P.L. Travers and inspiration for the character of Mary Poppins)

Former Rectors:

H. McCormack (first rector)

Stanley Mitchell (who was buried at sea but is commemorated with headstone in our cemetery)

Zachary Barry 

William Hough

William Cakebread

Oscar Abram

Roy Lovitt

We regularly receive visitors and enquiries from relatives hoping to find their ancestor’s grave at St Jude’s.  If you would like to share any information about a person who is buried here, to add to the knowledge of our rich history, this is very welcome.  Please get in touch:  contact@stjudesrandwick.org.au.