Hume City Council to buy Mickleham Pioneer Cemetery off Uniting Church for $1

It’s an old pioneer graveyard that could be home to up to 200 bodies — most in unmarked tombs. But now the owner can’t maintain the 4000 sqm historic block of land in Mickleham and it will be sold to Hume Council for a bargain price.

Hume City Council is buying the Mickleham Pioneer Cemetery from the Uniting Church for $1 as the church can no longer maintain it.

A northern suburbs council has decided to buy an old pioneer graveyard for just $1.

Hume Council has voted to acquire the Mickleham Pioneer Cemetery for the bargain price after the local Craigieburn Uniting Church congregation said it lacked the resources to properly maintain the site.

The heritage-listed block — at 440-442 Mt Ridley Rd, Mickleham — was one of Hume’s first graveyards where it’s believed up to 200 people could be buried, most without headstones.

The cemetery has three visible headstones remaining but the records and location of the rest interred at the site were poor.

Craigieburn Historical Interest Group president Yvonne Kernan said they were pleased the council had decided to take it over as it was an important community asset that must be treasured and well-maintained.

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“It is a heritage site of great significance to Hume, telling the story of the district’s early white settlers dating back to the 1860s and beyond,” she said.

“(The group) has been greatly concerned that it was dropping off the radar and in grave danger of being lost to the history group, future generations of interested residents, students and keen followers of local and family history.”

Hume City Council has resolved to buy this block of land — the Mickleham Pioneer Cemetery for $1.

Over the past few years Ms Kernan said the group had been actively involved in maintaining the gravesites, including clearing weeds, finding missing headstones and applying for grants to restore plaques for plots.

The history group has also volunteered to help the council care for the cemetery once it takes ownership.

In 1853, a bluestone church — which was later demolished — was built on the historically significant 4000 sqm site, with the building also used as a local school.

Once the sale with The Uniting Church Australia Property Trust is finalised, the council’s Parks Department will maintain the land in perpetuity.

A council report said future works at the site could include construction of a path, seating area, fencing and gates, signage and ongoing costs such as mowing and tree maintenance.

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