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ACT Pioneers Cemetery Heritage Trail
Highlights
- Explore diverse burial grounds across Canberra, revealing the rich tapestry of Australian heritage and societal evolution.
- Discover poignant stories etched on tombstones, highlighting the struggles of early farming families and cultural histories.
- Wander through both urban cemeteries and solitary graves, each site offering unique insights into local traditions and artistic styles.
- Embark on a self-drive tour, allowing for a personal connection with the past at your own pace.
The ACT Pioneers Cemetery Heritage Trail represents an exciting phase in the growing appreciation of the importance of burial grounds to the Canberra region’s heritage. This self drive tour will take you to churchyards, large urban cemeteries, pastoral plots and solitary graves. Much can be learned about Australia’s society by looking at tombstones and their inscriptions. Hardships of early farming families, the high infant mortality rate, Aboriginal burial, artistic styles and symbolism can all be revealed through cemeteries and burials.
Itinerary highlights
Riverside Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery is a fine early example of the state designing the burial ground instead of the church. However, the multidenominational areas were managed by the churches.
As you look at the tombstones you will notice a variety of styles, from the earliest tombstone in 1847 to the more ornate Victorian ones, through to the 1970s, where engraved information becomes very concise.
It may look like there is still room for further burials; however, there are hundreds of unmarked graves and the cemetery is closed to further interment.
Tour details
- On demand
This business does not currently offer accessible facilities.
Operation information
Canberra Tracks – Self Drive Heritage Trails
Canberra Tracks are eight self-drive heritage trails that will enhance your appreciation of the ACT. Canberra isn’t all new and planned. The region had a long, diverse history prior to its development as the nation’s capital. Discover it yourself with interpretive route signs bringing Canberra’s heritage to life. Alternately you can download their free App from the App or Play stores.
Track 1: Ngunnawal Country
Track 2: Limestone Plains
Track 3: Looking at Canberra
Track 4: ACT Pioneers Cemetery Trail
Track 5: Gungahlin
Track 6: The Belconnen Heritage Trail
Track 7: Woden
Track 8: Tuggeranong Heritage Trail
Canberra Tracks signs appear along the lakeside cycle ways and many other sites of interest.
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