Settlers' Park Cemetery, Kingston, Tasmania

Date: Oct 2017 to Oct 2017
Location: 63-65 Channel Highway Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia
Surnames/tags: Cemeteries Australia Tasmania

The Kingston Settlers' Park Cemetery is located at 63-65 Channel Highway Kingston. The cemetery was photographed by Neil Croll in 2017.

How to get there Kingston Settlers Park cemetery is about 13 Km south of Hobart. From the central business district of Hobart, take Davey St and the Southern Outlet south for 13 Km. Then, after going under an overpass, take a turnoff to the left marked 'Kingston Beach', veer left at the next road entry, joining the Huon Highway, go through the next roundabout and take the second right onto the Channel Highway. Pass through the Channel Court shopping area, straight ahead through the next roundabout (Freeman St and Maranoa Rd) and Settlers Park is on the left before the next roundabout (Summerleas Rd).

Text of main information board

Settlers Park A family cemetery

This little cemetery gives a glimpse into the stories behind some of early Kingston's pioneer families – and also into the district's pioneer Wesleyan and Methodist community, who once met for worship in a tiny timber chapel that stood close to this site.

While known as Settlers Park today, this little cemetery was alternatively known as the Wesleyan or Methodist Cemetery and was used for well over 120 years by local Browns River and Kingston families from the 1830s until well into the mid 20th century.

The site of the Settlers Park Cemetery was once part of W.T. Firth's grant, donated to the Wesleyan Church by his father J. Crossley Firth in the 1830s. In 1838, the cemetery contained a small weatherboard chapel (see illustration) which was erected on the south eastern corner of the property. A 1868 plan of the cemetery also shows a small shed on the eastern side of the property.

Today the cemetery is no longer used but still contains the remains and sometimes ornate Victorian headstones of prominent local families including the Firths, Jamses and Dixons.

As the details inscribed on the headstones are lost to time, this interpretation project will help preserve some details for the future.

Who was Ned Ludd?

In the early 1800s, organised groups of textile workers roamed the cities and towns of the English Midlands, burning industrial mills and smashing the new-fangled mechanised weaving looms that threatened to take away their skilled jobs and destroy cottage industries.

They were dubbed 'Luddites' and they took their name from Ned Ludd, an apprentice knitter in the 1770s. Ned took a hammer to his knitting frame – not as industrial sabotage, but just because his father ordered him to get back to work1

In 1812, a law was passed making frame-breaking a capital offence. The Luddites were charged with high treason – many were executed and others were transported to Van Diemen's Land for their crimes.

Joseph Crossley Firth, who is buried in this cemetery, was a Luddite – he escaped the gallows to become a respected citizen in the new colony. Ned Ludd's name lives on, even today – in the 21st century, someone who hasn't kept up with the age of computers and the internet might describe themselves as 'a bit of a Luddite'.

The first of the Firths

...you will be drawn upon a hurdle to a place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck until you are dead; afterwards your heads to be separated from your bodies and your bodies to be divided into four quarters at the disposal of His Majesty…'

That was the punishment for high treason in England in 1820, when Joseph Firth, a 30 year-old linen-weaver from Barnsley, pleaded guilty to the charge. He and 21 others were the leaders of a planned uprising to protest against new laws that permitted mechanisation in the textile factories.

The weavers and shoemakers of Barnsley were fortunate – instead of the death sentence, they made the long and dangerous voyage to the Australian colonies aboard a convict ship. In 1822 he walked down the gangplank to begin a new life – a life that would be marked by hard work, business success and community service.

Joseph's first assignment in Hobart was as gatekeeper of the timber yards behind the old wharf on Hunter Street. In the same year he arrives (1822) his wife Tabitha joined him in Van Diemen's Land, bringing their children Joseph and Mary Ann.

The Firths were a Colonial success story – after only ten years, they owned property in Hobart, Sandy Bay and near here at Brown's River, where the house 'Wharncliff' still stands. They had firm religious beliefs and were strong supporters of the early Wesleyan community, donating land at this spot for the district's original Wesleyan Methodist Chapel – the first place of worship constructed south of Hobart.

This little burial ground once lay alongside the timber chapel, which welcomed worshipers every Sunday until 1910. Today, only the grave markers and the Firth family vault remain, echoes in stone of pioneers who crossed the world to make new, successful and useful lives in Tasmania; and of people from the early Methodist community who followed them through the years.

Names that ring bells

There are more than ten Firths buried here in Settlers Park Cemetery – but as you wander along the gravestones here, you'll find names that have their own stories.

The Cottons came from Wales and settled on the East Coast, where their descendants still farm and grow vines on the lovely property Kelvedon, south of Swansea. The Hazells are a well-known family, with a long tradition of enterprise and business initiative, as well as service to the community and local government.

And can you find the gravestone of Emma Eugenie Keen, 'beloved wife of Walter Keen'? You'll probably see the Keen name in your kitchen cupboard – Walter's ancestor Joseph settled at Brown's River in 1843, ran a bakery and general store and began making the condiments and sauces that are still popular around the world. It was Joseph Keen's son-in-law Horace who helped write the Keen name into history, branding a South Hobart hillside with white stones, back in 1915. University students once changes the words to read HELL'S CURSE – but it was soon restored and it remains KEEN'S CURRY today. The strange case of the missing timber

When members of the early Wesleyan community in the Browns River area were planning th build their first place of worship, a supportive settler named Baynton generously gave money and sawn timber worth £50. It was a significant donation – but his fresh-cut hardwood boards were never nailed to the framework of the little chapel.

Overnight, the pile of timber vanished! Next morning Mr Baynton noticed traces of fresh sawdust on his own bullock dray – and was puzzled that his bullock team seemed exhausted. No wonder – they had been busy during the night! In the hours of darkness, an assigned servant had loaded up the timber, hitched up the bullocks and carted the stolen goods to North West Bay, where the planks were sold to a sawyer, to be sold in Hobart. But the community didn't give up – inspired by Hobart's Wesleyan minister, Rev Joseph Orton, they cleared the land that had been donated by Joseph Firth, arranged new donations of timber from local sawmillers and engaged carpenter Mr Fisher to finish the job. While the building work continued, Wesleyan services were held in Mr Baynton's own house – no doubt without the presence of the untrustworthy convict servant!

Settlers' Park Cemetery, 63-65 Channel Highway Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia

Name		Birth	Death	Age	Notes	Coordinates
						South	East
Barrett	John	2 Oct 1794	15 Jul 1859	64		42°58.553	147°18.327
Bester	Laura Lucinda	1891	26 Sep 1939	48	Spouse: Charles Albert Bester	42°58.556	147°18.326
C E D			1801			42°58.574	147°18.322
Coldbeck	Elsie Maggie Isabel	15 Oct 1876	9 Apr 1962	86	Spouse: Henry Coldbeck	42°58.574	147°18.322
Crosley	William Ronnie	1792	29 Nov 1856	74	Spouse: Mary Firth; Children: Lue, Ken, Marjory	42°58.574	147°18.322
Dixon	Alan Edward Crossley	1884	29 Mar 1959	75	Parents: Edward Crossley, Emily Crossley	42°58.555	147°18.327
Dixon	Charlotte Emily	1825	16 Aug 1861	36		42°58.569	147°18.322
Dixon	Edward Firth	9 Oct 1854	25 Nov 1905	51	Spouse: Emily Victoria Firth	42°58.554	147°18.327
Dixon	Elenor Arabella	Nov 1860	2 Mar 1862	16m		42°58.569	147°18.322
Dixon	Emily Beatrice	17 Nov 1886	14 Feb 1964	77	Parents: Edward Dixon, Emily Dixon	42°58.556	147°18.326
Dixon	Emily Victoria		18 Jul 1969		Spouse: Edward Firth	42°58.554	147°18.327
Dixon	Frederick William	1857	10 Dec 1924	67		42°58.574	147°18.322
Firth	Albert Alexander Crossley	27 May 1865	15 Aug 1929	64		42°58.560	147°18.325
Firth	Charlotte Amelia	1860	7 Oct 1864			42°58.569	147°18.322
Firth	D A M C	1885	10 Jun 1960	75	Service: 40 Btn. AIF	42°58.574	147°18.322
Firth	Darcy M C		20 Jun 1960		Service: 40th Btn. 1st AIF	42°58.574	147°18.322
Firth	Edna Jean	9 Apr 1924	11 July 1953	29	Parents: J T, J Firth	42°58.563	147°18.324
Firth	Ella Mary	6 Sep 1869	29 Jan 1947	77	Parents: John Thomas Firth, Jane Firth	42°58.558	147°18.325
Firth	Ernest	1870	19 Feb 1932			42°58.574	147°18.322
Firth	Frances Matilda	19 Sep 1832	28 Nov 1915	83		42°58.569	147°18.322
Firth	Henry W		19 Jun 1919		Spouse: Mary Jane Firth	42°58.570	147°18.322
Firth	James Charles	1849	30 July 1850	16m		42°58.569	147°18.322
Firth	James Charles		30 Oct 1815	19	Spouse: Tabitha Firth	42°58.569	147°18.322
Firth	Jane	4 Dec 1843	8 Aug 1930	87	Spouse: John Thomas Firth	42°58.574	147°18.322
Firth	John Thomas	25 Mar 1838	4 May 1903	64	Spouse: Jane Firth	42°58.559	147°18.325
Firth	Joseph Crossley	1790	24 Nov 1865	75		42°58.569	147°18.322
Firth	Mary Jane		16 Jan 1892		Spouse: Henry W Firth	42°58.571	147°18.322
Firth	Tabitha	1797	16 Apr 1869	72	Spouse: James Charles Firth	42°58.569	147°18.322
Hopkins	Janet Victoria	1865	7 July 1895	30	Spouse: T W Hopkins	42°58.572	147°18.322
Hopkins	Madeline Grace	1864	10 Jun 1933	69	Spouse: F E Hopkins	42°58.572	147°18.322
J C F & A F						42°58.573	147°18.321
Jackson	Sarah	1791	17 Oct 1857	66	Spouse: Nicholas Jackson	42°58.570	147°18.322
James	Birdie	1895	10 Feb 1984	89	Spouse: Roydon James	42°58.574	147°18.322
James	Emma		10 Mar 1933	57		42°58.574	147°18.322
James	Emma Cotton	1856	10 Mar 1923	57		42°58.574	147°18.322
James	George	1862	22 Sep 1928	66		42°58.574	147°18.322
James	Roydon	1890	7 Jul 1936	46	Spouse: Birdie James	42°58.574	147°18.322
Keen	Emma Eugene	1856	15 May 1914	58	Spouse: Walter Keen	42°58.570	147°18.322
Lindsay	Mary Ann	1841	10 Apr 1856	15		42°58.569	147°18.322
Lucas	Minnie T	28 Jul 1863	20 Sep 1938	65	Parents: John Thomas, Jane Firth; Spouse: E F Lucas	42°58.560	147°18.324
Smallhorn	Frances Martha	1892	15 Aug 1951	69	Spouse: Herbert E Smallhorn	42°58.562	147°18.324
Thiessen	Alfred William	1877	9 Dec 1942	65	Spouse: Ruby Thiessen, Children: Nancy, Douglas	42°58.557	147°18.326
Western	Rene Clarissa	19 Jan 1891	26 Jun 1960	69	Spouse: C C Weston	42°58.574	147°18.322
Wise	Edith Eugene	1869	22 May1931	62	Parents: John Thomas Firth, Jane Firth; Spouse: W H Wise	42°58.561	147°18.325