Rutherglen’s Two Historic Carlyle Cemeteries

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.

30/03/2026

May be something of interest for many:

Completed in 1864, the Old Beechworth Gaol is one of Australia’s best preserved gold-rush gaols and is included on Australia's National Heritage. The Old Gaol has seen it all. The rise of the goldf...

24/03/2026

PHYLLIS LOCKYER MILLS : born 1820 died 1903.
A remarkable and interesting life journey!

Carlyle Cemetery Distillery Road Rutherglen.

Phyllis Lockyer was born in St. Dunstan Stepney England on 28/9/1820 to parents Samuel Lockyer and Sarah Date.

At 18 years Phyllis was transported to Van Dieman’s Land in 1838 aboard the ‘Majestic’, arriving in the January of 1839. She had been convicted at the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court for larceny and sentenced to seven years prison. This was her second offence hence the severity of the sentence. The journey was long and difficult with Phyllis mustering to the medical bay with sea sickness as well as suffering from a burn to her left forearm which she received upon one of the ribs of the galley grill. The burn was treated with salve and bandaging. It was sheer luck she didn’t get an infection which could have led to her death.

After arrival, Phyllis appears on the convict registers as having been assigned to work for a Mr. W. H. Griffiths of Launceston. Generally, this work meant that the women sent out to the various establishments were reasonably presentable, and physically capable of hard work. It was by no means an easy road however and some faced all types of depravations and abuse. Phyllis was not literate so she would have been undertaking tasks requiring labour such as house cleaning, washing, cooking, child minding, animal care, milking, collecting firewood, herding, gardening and the like.
At 20 years old and with government permission, Phyllis married ticket of leave convict, Henry George Mills, aged 25 years, on the 12th of May 1841 at St. John Parish Church Launceston, minister W. Brown conducting the service under the rites of the Church of England and Ireland. Henry Mills had arrived in 1832 aboard the ‘John’ and had been assigned to public works, which meant building tracks and roads, infrastructure, and civic needs to small yet growing colony. The work was gruelling, with some convicts working in chains, minimal food and water supplied along with extremely harsh weather. Henry was granted his Certificate of Freedom in 1845.

The couple had ten recorded children, seven were born in Launceston with the remaining three children born after Phyllis and Henry left Tasmania and arrived at Fryerstown Victoria amidst the goldrush era of the late 1850’s. The first recording of them being at Fryerstown Victoria was in 1859.

The trip from port of arrival to Herons Reef Fryerstown (today known as the Castlemaine National Heritage Park) must have been challenging with basic goods and seven children in tow, on foot. Most families and miners made the journey with their belongings in wheelbarrows and on their backs. Children were expected to cart along the journey also.

Phyllis, Henry, and family stayed in Fryerstown until Henry’s passing in 1896, with him being buried at the Fryerstown Cemetery along with sons Daniel D1880 and William D 1898.

Phyllis appears to then have been under the care of her family living with son Samuel and his wife Katherine in Footscray Victoria. Phyllis lived at 95 Whitehall Street Footscray until she passed away at the home on 22/8/1903.

Arrangements were made that Phyllis be interred at Rutherglen amongst her extended family. She is buried with her granddaughter named Amelia Hawking Martin who died at 19 years of age in 1899 and had only been shortly married to her beau Alexander Martin, a miner at Rutherglen. Amelia’s parents also resided in Rutherglen being Amelia Mills Hawking and Thadeus Hawking.

Phyllis Lockyer Mills and her granddaughter Amelia Martin are buried in lot number 103A Wesleyan Compartment at Carlyle. More recently Phyllis and Amelia’s relatives have organised for a beautiful desk top grave memorial to signify their burial place. Below sketches of both Phyllis and husband Henry at their youngest - see below (ref public domain).
Wesleyan Compartment pic location of Phyllis and grandaughter Amelia's interment lot which more recently has had a memorial added by family.

09/02/2026

The Morrison Grave - Ullina Station Run near Lilliput.
John Morrison, shepherd, died 4th October 1850.

The Withers Ullina Run Private Cemetery - located along Black Dog Creek via Lilliput.

Across the North East there are many lone graves, private farm cemeteries and historic old pioneer cemeteries. They are incredibly interesting and significant in that they provide insight into the earliest of colonial life at the dawn of settlement.

Interestingly, and given some burials date as early as 1848, there seems little historic interest or lacking heritage notations or overlays for some of these locations. This is where things can get perilous for the future if such sites aren't preserved, documented and protected, especially so with development occurring at a rapid rate. History can be signified, it doesn't need to be swallowed up and forgotten.

Two of these interesting sites located near Rutherglen are the Morrison grave, situated near Murdering Hut Creek and upon private land.

The other is the historic Ullina Cemetery (sometimes known as the Withers private Cemetery), which is associated with one of the earliest European pioneering families of this area and located along the Black Dog Creek Lilliput. Once again, this cemetery is upon private land.

The Morrison grave is symbolic of the earliest pioneer squatting runs, being Ullina Station near Lilliput. Jason Withers and family settled on the land employing shepherds for general station labour as early as the late 1840's. Jason Withers by all accounts, was a hard working and fair man who gave ticket of leave convicts the opportunity of work. A number of these people had drifted down to the area from the Ebdon Cattle Runs with Charles Hotson Ebden and William Wyse.

One of the station hands, a shepherd named John Morrison, a ticket of leave convict who had been at the station for a short period of time got into an altercation on October 3rd, 1850 with another ticket of leave convict named Matthew Madden. Reports of the day vary as to the real cause of the altercation, with drink being attributed as the main reason. Morrison ended up dead resultant from the fracas.

Matthew Madden stabbed John Morrison with some shears and after lingering on and off for a day John Morrison died. Jason Withers, station owner, had been called at the onset and had stayed with a local area doctor, Dr. Keating to administer help and comfort until Morrison's passing. Thereafter an inquest was held. Madden was convicted of manslaughter, serving 7 years at the newly established Pentridge penal colony. He was to serve hard labour on the roads and quarries.

John Morrison was buried in the paddock where the shepherd hut was situated, along the Blind Creek (at times also referred to as Bright or Blight, but now known as Murdering Hut Creek). Today upon grazing land in a nearby paddock there stands a cairn to commemorate this earliest event and the final resting place of John Morrison.

Much has been researched about the two main characters of this event with victim John Morrison having been transported to the colony of NSW, gaining his ticket of leave, then working upon various stations and cattle runs. Matthew Madden ended up living a ripe old age, settled eventually in the Bathurst area and was buried at Bathurst Cemetery. He'd lived a tough and wily life, was an ex-seafarer and had been transported in 1837.

The Withers Cemetery was utilised until the early 1900's for family burials. It is still visible today and from time to time needs maintenance which land owners have provided over the many passing years.

14/01/2026

We too have so many children buried at the original Carlyle Pioneer Cemetery. Most coming from the All England Lead, The Newcastle Lead, The Lanarkshire Lead (that’s the one where the recent Ready Street development has occurred), and many other surrounding mines. Some burials pre-date the mining arrivals but most were from 1861 to 1864. There has to be at least 150 plus more children….its a work in progress discovering who they were and which mining lead or diggings they were on.

THE CHILDREN WHO DIED ON THE DIGGINGS — THE GOLD RUSH’S DARKEST SILENCE

Most people imagine the Victorian goldfields as places of fortune-seekers, rugged men, and roaring success.

What they don’t imagine…

…are children.

Yet by the early 1850s, tens of thousands of children lived on the goldfields — and many of them never grew up.

This is a true story rarely told.

A GOLD RUSH BUILT TOO FAST FOR SAFETY

When gold was discovered, the rush wasn’t just men with pans.

Families followed.

Women brought children.
Babies were born in tents.
Toddlers played beside shafts.
Older kids worked — carrying water, sorting gravel, tending fires.

But the goldfields were never designed for families.

There were:
• open shafts everywhere
• unstable mullock heaps
• unguarded mine entrances
• deep waterholes
• blasting powder stored in tents
• no fencing
• no safety rules

And children paid the price.

FALLING INTO THE EARTH

One of the most common causes of child death on the goldfields was falling into mine shafts.

Contemporary newspapers from Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Clunes record dozens of cases where:

• children wandered off paths and fell straight down abandoned shafts
• shafts were hidden by leaves, grass, or canvas
• covers collapsed under a child’s weight
• parents searched for hours before realising what had happened

Some shafts were 30–60 feet deep.
Others were far deeper.

Recovery often took days — if it happened at all.

In some cases, the bodies were never retrieved.

DROWNED IN DIGGERS’ WATERHOLES

Water was essential for gold, so miners dug deep holes that filled after rain.

These waterholes looked harmless.
Some were crystal clear.
Some sat right beside camps.

Children fell in constantly.

Coroner’s records show repeated entries like:

“Child, age 3, drowned in abandoned washing hole.”

There were no lifeguards.
No fences.
No warning signs.

If a child slipped in while adults were working, the outcome was often fatal.

DISEASE KILLED EVEN MORE

The goldfields were filthy by modern standards.

Children died in huge numbers from:
• dysentery
• typhoid
• measles
• scarlet fever
• whooping cough

Tents flooded.
Clothes stayed wet.
Drinking water was contaminated by upstream washing.

In some camps, half the children born there died before age five.

Doctors were scarce.
Medicine was limited.
Many families simply watched helplessly.

ACCIDENTS THAT SOUND UNBELIEVABLE TODAY

Newspapers recorded cases of children:
• crushed by collapsing mullock heaps
• burned alive when tents caught fire
• killed by blasting powder explosions
• run over by bullock drays
• suffocated in shallow shafts

One Ballarat report describes a child who crawled into a shaft “to retrieve a toy” and never came out.

These are not legends.
They are in the inquest files.

WHY YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT THEM

Children didn’t leave diaries.
They didn’t own claims.
They weren’t famous.

Their deaths were recorded in small notices — sometimes just a single line.

No monuments.
No memorials.
No plaques.

Just silence.

Yet without them, the goldfields wouldn’t have functioned.
They cooked.
They fetched water.
They worked.
They survived — until they didn’t.

The Victorian gold rush wasn’t just built on gold.

It was built on families who paid a terrible price.

05/12/2025

Always interesting to see and hear about other cemeteries.

Rutherglen’s Carlyle Cemetery conducts history tours from time to time featuring on the diverse and interesting histories of the people interred.

Carlyle has a fabulous history capturing the people of the past who were interesting, intriguing, mysterious, trailblasers, and in some cases a bit on the dark side.

19/10/2025