A progressive old cemetery - stories from the grave

Does anyone else spend their spare time looking at old cemeteries?  Many would think this a strange thing to do when you are on holidays!  However, I find it relaxing as the headstones tell stories.  I found that the graves at the pioneer cemetery in Cairns tell better stories than any other cemetery that I have visited!

While recently in Cairns for a work conference and visiting my sisters, I noticed the old cemetery in the middle of town, which appeared very well maintained and preserved.  My sister was happy to visit it with me, although we have no family buried there.

The Rotunda has a map of the graves and alphabetical listings
of all the interred.

From the moment that I entered, I was impressed but my initial expectations were to be exceeded!

It is a relatively small cemetery, which is immaculately maintained and it is easy to see that a lot of time and money has been put into repairing and maintaining graves.

I was immediately drawn to the rotunda, which has walls of memorial plaques, listing in alphabetical order, the names, year of death, age, map reference and burial numbers of the interred. There is also a map, which shows the location of the grave, the name and grave number.  

How many people have spent hours wandering a cemetery looking for a headstone or grave?  Not at the McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery in Cairns, where it is very easy to find a grave!  But it gets better!

It is easy to locate graves at the McLeod St Pioneer Cemetery Cairns.
1.  Locate Deceased on alphabetical plaque (inset excerpt), which shows Surname, Given Name, Year of Death, Age at Death, Grave Reference and Burial Number
2.  Use Grave Reference to determine where grave is located in the cemetery.

At the rear of many graves, there are grave markers with QR codes
This is the back of the grave for Eliza Earl.

As I was wandering through the gravestones I noticed QR (Quick Response) codes on marble gravestone markers at the back of many of the graves.  My first thought was "Why are there such modern markers in such a nice old cemetery?  They just don't fit in!".  How wrong I was!






My kids had previously introduced me to QR codes, so I got my phone out and scanned the codes.  OH WOW!  Immediately I was directed to the website for the Cairns & District family history society website and a story about the person who was buried in the grave!  Amazing!  Imagine how you would feel if this was your relative!!  How wonderful!  How I would love for my blogs about ancestors to be available at their gravestones for family to read!

The Result of  the QR Scan directed me to a blog about the interred - in this instance Eliza Earl

I need to congratulate Cairns & District family history society!  Well Done!  I would like to see this completed by more cemeteries and family history societies!  I am going to look into doing this for some of my ancestors graves!

You can obtain a QR Code Scan Application from the App store or Google Play.  I have randomly included a few codes for you to scan if you are interested. Yes you can scan the codes from this blog with your phone or tablet!  Next time that you are in Cairns, take your phone or tablet and go for an interesting walk through the McLeod St Pioneer Cemetery!

William Real - Died 15 July 1912

Arthur Prime - Killed Accidentally on 3rd July 1915

John Samuel Pyne - Died 24th January 1890

Margaret Redden and 4 of her children - Died 1878, 1882, 1884, 1889 & 1904

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