Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

 As you know I love a beautifully sculptured headstone. Many in Rookwood stop me in my tracks and the one that I would never have seen, unless pointed out, is why I investigated the man who it pays tribute to. WILLIAM JAMES GOWANS William was born on the 16th of October 1890, the eldest son of William and Eliza (nee Elms). William (Senior) arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1884, Eliza was born in Collingwood Melbourne to parents formally from England. The couple had four children before marrying in 1896. This may have been due to Eliza having previously been married twice, firstly at the age of fifteen. It seems that both men deserted her and died in other States of Australia. None the less it seems that Eliza was lucky at the third attempt, and they went on to provide William with six siblings, most living long lives. William (Senior) was involved with the Sydney Scottish Borderers Association which aimed to promote interest in Scottish music, literature and sports. William (S...

  I confess I don't mind a bit of shopping - currently though it's more of the “ window” type - so when I was alerted to a person who once was the creator of a department store, I remember from my distant childhood, I had to delve more. There are many store proprietors that call Rookwood "home", and I will publish blogs about them over the coming months, but today's piece pays homage to: - WILLIAM BUCKINGHAM William Buckingham was born in Yorkshire Northern England in 1854 the eldest child of Samuel and his wife Mary nee Moore. The family which included several more children arrived upon these shores in the winter of 1875 when William was about 20 years of age. It didn’t take long before William set up a drapery business. By 1884 his business was listed as Buckingham and Pepper relocating from 180 Pitt Street to 510 George Street. The business continued at that address until 1894 when it was trading only under Buckingham’s name. In March 1894, W. Buckingha...

 I have mentioned previously that famous, extraordinary, ordinary and the infamous all lie in harmony in Rookwood. To date I have made mention of the extraordinary. Today's blog is about a person who became infamous. STUART WILSON CHRISTOPHER BRIGGS Stuart was born in June 1874, the youngest of William and Sarah Briggs' children. By 1898 he had worked as a Storeman as well as a probationary Police Constable. He had been dismissed from the Police Force in 1893 after only four months in the job. Briggs was over 6' tall with a large build and known to succumb to violent rages particularly whilst drinking.  Stuart Wilson Christopher Briggs - from Captured -NSW State Archives In the mid to late 1890's a severe recession took grip of the country with many people leaving the regions and converging on the cities, in turn making employment harder to gain for everyone. Briggs found himself unemployed in 1898. Although unemployed, Briggs was "stepping out" with Maggie Bi...

 I guess we are glad that we can see election day in sight after a long six week campaign.... Image from the Museum of Democracy at Old Parliament House With all this political talk it got me thinking about the Politicians who call Rookwood home. Throughout the Cemetery there would be thousands of people who took up the baton to effect change. Many Aldermen, Mayors, Members of the State Government of NSW and a smattering of those who represented the Nation are buried in the Necropolis particularly in the original 200 acres where it seemed many a businessman found his way to Council Chambers and then onto the State Government representing his electorate. Many were cremated and their ashes scattered in the Necropolis. Of the Politicians most are from the Left leaning variety befitting the area in which they lie, being mainly working class. There are a number of prominent woman as well. So to a little name dropping and we have John "Jack" Lang, Fred Daly, Sydney (Sid) Einfeld, A...