It may now be called Pioneers Memorial Park, but for more than 130 years it was the final resting place for people who called the Liverpool region home.
From 1821 to the 1950s, Liverpool Pioneers Memorial Park was the principal cemetery for the Liverpool region and is the resting place of more than 13,000 early and influential citizens.
Some of Liverpool’s notable citizens resting there include early free settler and farmer James Badgery, after whom Badgerys Creek is named, Reverend Robert Cartwright, first Minister of St Luke’s Church and Richard Sadlier, the first Mayor of Liverpool.
For many years Liverpool’s former resting place had been allowed to become rundown and the victim of constant vandalism attacks.
But mainly as a result of the work of a former council general manager, the late Phil Tolhurst, the memorial park has been restored, fully fenced and has had lighting installed to ward off night time vandalism attacks.
It is now a beautiful sanctuary behind the giant Westfield Liverpool shopping centre, boasting well kept lawns and gardens.
But the current Liverpool Council administration wants to go one step further now in a bid to increase awareness of this incredible heritage site which contains so much of early Liverpool life.
Council is asking residents for their views on a new draft strategy to better share the stories of some of Liverpool’s most interesting and influential early citizens who are buried at Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park.
“The old cemetery has some fascinating stories to tell,” says the mayor, Ned Mannoun.
“And our new plan is to draw more visitors into the park to enjoy its history and social significance, and through it, the broader history of Liverpool.”
The Draft Interpretive Signage Strategy for the memorial park outlines a combination of new onsite signage, printed resources, as well as digital information including a Wikipedia style inventory, notable pioneer’s biographies, cemetery database and interactive maps on council’s website, which will also be accessible via smart phones.
“I encourage residents to jump on to Liverpool Listens and share their ideas on how we can create the best experience for visitors to the memorial park Park and do justice to the fascinating stories of our pioneering citizens,” Mayor Mannoun said.
The draft plan will be available for viewing and feedback until Wednesday, May 13.
To have your say, log on to council’s online forum, Liverpool Listens, via the link: http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/liverpool-listens.
Residents can also provide feedback in writing to:
Chief Executive Officer
Draft Interpretive Signage Strategy Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park (2013/2672)
Locked Bag 7064
LIVERPOOL BC NSW 1871
