Occasional
Newsletter No.1
November 2003
Welcome to the First Newsletter
The Trust is committed to promoting the conservation of New Zealand
Cemeteries as places of significant historic, cultural and social
importance. For more information on the work of the Trust refer to
the contact details below.
Cemetery Tours
Recognising the historical significance of the cemeteries and the
cultural treasures represented in the grave furniture the HCCT has
planned and introduced a series of Cemetery Tours.
With scripts prepared by Dr Terry Hearn, a local historian and member
of the Trust Board, a team of tour guides have led tours through both
cemeteries.
The first tour was through the North Cemetery with members of the
Rotary Club of Dunedin North, many of whom have been very active in
clearing wilding vegetation and litter from the cemetery. Continuing
their co-operation the touring Rotarians completed an evaluation form
at the end of the tour that allowed reflection on future tours.
The second tour was to the Southern Cemetery on an early spring Sunday
afternoon. More than 90 people took part in the tour which took in the
graves of significant people from Otago’s history. Opportunity
was included in the tour to highlight some of the challenges facing
the trust as we endeavour to overcome the impact of vandalism, inappropriate
plantings and natural forces.
The third tour, also of the Southern Cemetery was by a class of Otago
Polytechnic Nurse Trainees. Requested by their tutor to relate to
the spiritual dimension of their training, more than 20 young adults
proved to be a lively and responsive tour group.
The most recent tour, enjoying the advantage of a warm Sunday afternoon
was of the Northern Cemetery with more than 60 interested people
sharing interests and concerns and discovering more of the historical
and social significance of the area.
We take this opportunity to thank those who acted as guides as well
as our resident historian for the scripts.
Conservation Plans
for Dunedin’s Northern and Southern Cemeteries
Conservation plans for both the Northern and Southern Cemeteries in
Dunedin are necessary to ensure that any future activity within these
historic precincts is guided by internationally acceptable standards.
Conservation plans will identify the significance of the cemeteries,
the threats to their integrity, the particular flora and highlight
the areas of concern. Identification of conservation values and the
preservation of unique or distinctive features will provide a
non-partisan evaluation for future reference.
Conservation plans do not come cheap. It is expected that at least
$40,000 will be needed to complete this first exercise.
Personalities: The man with the vision. Stewart Harvey
had a dream- fortunately it was not just a day dream. He recognised
that the near derelict state of the Northern Cemetery in Dunedin was
an indictment of the community and that it did not have to be the
way it was. Stewart sold his conviction to members of his Rotary Club
and they swung into action. With the co-operation of the Dunedin City
Council staff they began a series of determined attacks on the overgrown
shrubs and wilding plants that obscured or were damaging headstones
and obstructed walkways. Over a period of months tons of vegetation
were marked and removed and stumps treated with herbicide.
The conjunction of Stewartıs interests in genealogy and history and
the recognition that the cemetery was a significant historical and
sociological treasure extended to the recognition that a more permanent
and extensive approach was needed to preserve, conserve and rescue
the cemeteries of the city from becoming totally overgrown. Contact
with some other interested and concerned members of the community
led, eventually, to the establishment of the Historic Cemeteries Conservation
Trust of New Zealand.
Southern
Cemetery
The Southern Cemetery has suffered over the years from a good deal
of mindless vandalism. Many headstones have been toppled and others
have collapsed due to inadequate foundations. Trees, some planted
by families on the graves of loved ones and many the result of seeds
spread by birds, cause much damage. As in many home gardens trees
that when planted were mere decorations subsequently grow to unexpected
dimensions. Some overwhelm the grave site eclipsing the headstone
and in some places destroying or at least threatening the integrity
of grave architecture.
In the Southern Cemetery a further long term problem was created by
the decision of a previous director of Parks and Reserves to plant
trees on any unpaved graves. Thirty years after the event the trees
have become a serious threat to the integrity of the graves and their
removal constitutes a major challenge.
Working with the staff of the City Council a series of working bees
by diverse groups from Westpac Trust Bank, N.Z. Society of Genealogists
Dunedin Branch, Dunedin Amenities Society, Friends of Maitland Street,
and students from John McGlashan College have removed hundreds of
tons of herbage.
Ivy,
holly, pittosporum, buddleia, cotoneaster, willow, flowering currant
and several unidentified plants have been trimmed, removed and treated
with herbicide to allow passage and light where it has been impossible
for some time. Work here, as in the Northern Cemetery continues.Since
the beginning of October further mindless vandalism has damaged headstones
near the Eglinton Road boundary of the cemetery.
Dog Gone!
It is not widely known, and it is certainly not well accepted by their
owners, that dogs are not allowed in cemeteries. City Council bylaws
clearly define cemeteries as dog free areas but dogs can’t read!
The signs on the entrances to our cemeteries are clear but we regularly
meet dogs, with their owners, in our cemeteries!
The
Forgotten Architect?
Robert Arthur Lawson is arguably the most significant architect in
Dunedin’s history. His work is admired at Otago Boys High School,
First Church, Fortune Theatre, Knox Church, East Taieri Church, Larnach's
Castle, and many other significant structures. After working
in Australia for some years he returned to New Zealand in 1900 and
died two years later.
His body lies in an unmarked grave in the Northern Cemetery.
Lawrence
We
have recently had discussions with the Lawrence Community Board in
respect to the conservation of their historic cemetery. We were most
impressed by the depth of history in the cemetery and by their enthusiasm
to utilize it in the furtherance of the marketing of their historic
township.
Cleaning
Headstones
One
of the most common questions we are asked is “how do I clean
this headstone?”
Our
recommendation is – do nothing. It is so easy to do huge damage
to the fabric of the headstone. NEVER use a wire brush.
If it is unreadable because of heavy moss or lichen we recommend plenty
of water and a natural bristle brush and much elbow grease.
It is not necessary or desirable to end up with it looking shiny and
clean like it was when it was new.
We have produced a brochure outlining in greater detail how to care
for grave furniture. It is available, from libraries, cemetery offices,
NZ Historic Places Trust offices, funeral directors and the Trust,
free of charge, on request.
What’s
Happening Around New Zealand?
Auckland
City Council have allocated $100,000 in each of the last two years
towards the conservation of gravesites in the Symond’s Street
Historic Cemetery.
Wellington
City Council have prepared a professional Management Plan for Karori
Historic Cemetery and Makara Cemetery. Public submissions are now
being received and we have made a submission in support of their excellent
proposals. They have suggested that gravesite restoration should be
funded at $86,400 per year over the next 30 years. |
