VPRS 17131 Correspondence, Old Melbourne Cemetery

The first burial at the Old Melbourne Cemetery occurred in 1837. The cemetery was divided into sections for each religious denomination. In 1851, due to lack of available space, the cemetery was closed to burials apart from people who already had claims on plots. The last burial at the cemetery took place in 1917. The cemetery closed in 1922.The gradual encroachment of what is now known as the Queen Victoria Market saw cemetery land being taken over by the market. In 1877 the sections allocated to Aboriginals and Quakers and the unused part of the Jewish section were taken over by the market.In 1917 the Melbourne General Markets Land Act (No:2913) was passed by parliament allowing the Melbourne City Council to reclaim cemetery land for the use of the market. The council had the responsibility of overseeing the operations of the cemetery through the appointing of trustees. The Melbourne City Council were co trustees of the cemetery with the Board of Land and Works (VA 669).Exhumation of bodies began in 1920. Only marked graves were exhumed. George Simms of the Melbourne City Council had the responsibility for the exhumations and he identified 525 marked graves. Human remains were found in the early 1990's during excavation work for the market car park, the site of the major part of the Old Cemetery grounds. As part of the exhumation process 70 significant memorials were identified and relocated to the Fawkner Park Old Pioneers Section. Other bodies were reinterred at cemeteries around Melbourne.There are two separate sets of correspondence files. The first set concerns correspondence received in response to a notice placed in the Government Gazette of 8 November 1867.The notice requested people with claims to plots of land to contact the Public Works Department. The correspondence was registered by the Public Works Department, but was forwarded on to their co - trustees (the Melbourne City Council) at a later date.The second set of correspondence contains various types of documents such as undertaker certificates, coroner's certificates, permission for burial slips and written enquiries on various matters. A copy of the index to graves is also included.Researchers interested in the Melbourne City Council's role in the closure of the Old Melbourne Cemetery should consult the Minutes of Council Meetings (VPRS 8910) from around 1916 to 1922. The minutes of the Market Committee (VPRS 8945) contain many references to the Old Melbourne Cemetery between 1916 and 1922.Town Clerk's Correspondence Series II (VPRS 3183) may also contain files pertaining to the closure of the Old Melbourne Cemetery.The Town Clerk's Correspondence Series I (VPRS 3181) does not contain any references to the Old Melbourne Cemetery.