Submission of Tomerong Community Forum
to Shoalhaven City Council
regarding the private cemetery
in the proposed Parnell subdivision

Mrs Margaret Blair
10 Jervis Street
TOMERONG 2540
4443 4129
email address : tomhistory@shoal.net.au

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

The General Manager
Shoalhaven City Council
PO Box 40
NOWRA NSW 2541

Dear Sir,

At the last Tomerong Community Forum (TCF) meeting, held on Monday, 31 January, plans of the proposed subdivision (SF 9632) by the Parnell family were discussed. Concerns were raised by members of the community about the future of the private cemetery, which is believed to lie within block number 30 of the proposed development.

The cemetery is of significant importance to the Tomerong community, being one of only a handful of historical sites still visible within the village. Whilst not a designated cemetery, it was used by the early settlers to this district with burials taking place as early as 1861 and possibly as late as 1908. The following is an extract from the Tomerong local history “From Bullocks to Bypass”:

“Prior to 1890 burials occurred on a site behind the hotel premises on the Parnell property. This cemetery is the resting place of Mary Susan Pearson who died in 1861 aged 1 year and 5 months, William George Wood who died in 1867 aged 2 years and 2 months, William Pearson who died in 1867, Robert Lamb who died in 1881 aged 62 years and Isabella Jane Lane who died in 1889. This site is also the resting place for the Tomerong Public School’s second teacher Matthew Craig who died at the age of 61 in 1889. It is also possible that the original owner of this property, John Parnell, was buried here in 1896. However, reports at the time of his burial indicate only that he was buried at the Tomerong Cemetery. Reports indicate that his wife, Harriett, was buried alongside him in 1908.“
Pyree Family History Centre. List of those buried at Tomerong cemetery. National Trust- Tomerong Cemetery Index Card 4/5/1986.

The Tomerong Community Forum meeting resolved that a Working Group be formed to make a submission to Council to express the great need to ensure the preservation of this sensitive site. It is imperative that Council consider these concerns with respect to the development application.

Yours sincerely

Margaret Blair
Parnell Cemetery Working Group
Tomerong Community Forum