Australia's oldest colonial cemetery - Parramatta's neglected heritage

St John's Cemetery in Parramatta is the oldest colonial cemetery in Australia. It is the resting place for many First Fleeters and significant figures in the early penal colony. Like Parramatta's other heritage sites, it is little known and little visited,

Head over the Rusty Compass for our guide to Parramatta heritage gems -

Back in 2020, Parramatta heritage received lots of attention with talk of museum projects and heritage demolitions. Meanwhile, Australia's oldest European cemetery, the burial ground of major figures in the early New South Wales penal colony, was left neglected, right by Parramatta's booming CBD. Parramatta is Australia's heritage poor relation. It has some of Australia's most important historical sites. Most of which are unknown even to Sydney residents.

Join Mark on an walk of Sydney history and beautiful places with Old Compass Travel -

We have added a new tour of the historic Rocks precinct -

Check out our blog on Parramatta's neglected heritage here.

[davannaleah]

I have an ancestor there too. As far as I can work out, he was the first direct ancestor of mine to arrive in Australia more than 222 years ago.
George Mealmaker was actually the first superintendent of the Womens Factory, originally located where Prince Alfred Square now resides.
Thanks for your video. I often fear, with the value of land in Parramatta, forgetting places like this makes them more vulnerable to them ultimately disappearing, going unnoticed or uncaring by the people, taken by the greedy developers and corrupt politicians.

[didi]

Visited this cemetery in the 60s while at Arthuur Phillip high . It was in poor condition even then with some covers damaged and dislodged.

[stephenslater]

I have lived in the Parramatta area all of my 50+ years. This is just down thee street from where I live and wonder why it's not getting the attention it deserves. I have noticed that on occasions people on weekend detention are there cleaning it up by mowing the lawns and fixing the edges but that is infrequent. Why is Parramatta City Council not doing more to the upkeep of this historical site?

[soniastanley]

So sad it breaks my heart thank you for sharing our history

[Simonewhitesim-music]

Myself an American living right in Parramatta for nearly 15 years. I visit most of these places. I want to know the place I am calling home. So I am watching this to hear more. Plus made a good friend that's been here all his 81 years of life. Great man. Keep doing these Videos. Cheers

[ROCLIFER]

Fascinating look at what is happening more frequently all over. In the US, famous civil war battlefields are also under threat by development. Here’s to protecting and conserving these precious areas.

[abiray]

I'd HIGHLY ENCOURAGE people to take a walking audio tour around Parra! I forget what app we used unfortunately. I went to visit a friend this year and we had a wonderful time learning about their neighborhood and the tour took us all over the place! So many fun little tidbits!

[tginstant]

Have always enjoyed your videos from Vietnam to Australia.Glad your health has improved and looking forward to more of your work, thank you.

[putramatebean]

Thanks a Lot for this such nice Video in increasing my History ability.May God Bless those who were burried here.

[gayleyeadon]

I lived in Hunter Street back in the 60s. We were always at the cemetery. I had my favourite, I put flowers on it. Was a women's grave. Then the cemetery was very neglected. You could see into graves. The boxes were like they were thrown in. One on top of the other. Vandals had thrown red paint on some. So sad to see these graves disrespected.

[glenntownsend]

I also have family buried there and whilst I enjoyed your video, your repeated assertion that the cemetery is forgotten and neglected points to an alterior message. I too have been there a number of times and haven't seen anyone else. But that derides the work being done behind the scenes by the 'dedicated' members of the historical association in researching and publishing about the cemetery. Copious amounts of information about the cemetery can be found online - webpage, Facebook etc. Several academics have also been publishing their work online as well. I'm not sure if you spoke to anyone at the association about the maintenance of the property but you would have been told that the regular maintenance is done by a team doing weekend detention from one of the local gaols. They haven't been allowed to do any work since the beginning of Covid two years ago, hence the overgrown state of the place. Forgotten and neglected it is not!

[christineconroy]

I will definitely take the time to visit now.

[boristherock]

It looks like it has been purposefully planted with beautiful native grasses like Themeda triandra and Microlaena stipoides. It hints at the aboriginal landscape that these early settlers were buried in.

[ucviet]

Nice I really don't know what to say... Funding?... No votes here... My coffee shop buddy is David Hill.. who is never short of word.. raconteured me a few first fleet stories over the years...heritage just doesn't seem important in multicultural Sydney... David's books are great reading in my opinion.. Best wishes

[gabrielleyalcinkaya]

That cemetery has been run down since I can remember. We played hide and seek there in the early 80s. What I wouldn't give to go back to Parra. From what I'm told I wouldn't recognize it today. My Family history started the 1853.

[trevorpowis]

Hey Mark.
I guess I speak for all your friends and admirers (me being one) I would like to wish you, your family including our lovely cafe staff in Sai Gon a great Xmas and a spectacular new year.
Health and love to all.

Trev Powis Cohuna Victoria Australia

[haroldmclean]

I never knew this Graveyard existed 👍 Very interesting indeed

[nothinyaseehere]

Any chance you can take a wipper snipper n clear around the graves? It’d take half an hour n look really nice after.. if you do it someone might see n do it next time.. cheers for the great history lesson on early Australia

[shondra]

I would love to find my ancestor who is resting here. His grave is marked unknown on find a grave. So I’m wondering how I can take this further. Thanks for sharing this video

[adrianahalmi]

I love cemeteries, it’s like museums!!! I visited looots of cemeteries in Australia, but this one really looks bad… shame on council and shame on Australian politicians to step over Australia’s history… so sad…