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Compiled by Tom and Libby Luke 2006(c)

The Mount Alexander Goldfield was the world's richest Alluvial Goldfield and as such attracted tens of thousands of miners of all nationalities from 1851 on. Again none more prominent than the Cornish. The Southern part of this field along Fryers Creek and the Loddon River had many settlements including Fryerstown, Spring Gully, Fryers Creek, Irishtown, Vaughan, Red Hill, Church's Flat, The Loddon, Deadmans Flat, Guildford, etc.

At Fryerstown you can see the preserved remains of the Cornish Engine House of the Duke of Cornwall Mine and the story of the Rowe brothers and Richard Luke Middleton Kitto. A Commemorative Plaque now reminds people of this Cornish undertaking.

As the first Official Cemeteries in this area weren't established until 1859 there are now disused Cemeteries that have reverted to bush and paddocks. The bush also holds the final resting place of many a miner and his family none more prominent than the Escott Grave near Fryerstown.
At Deadmans Flat, a now disused Cemetery in the shadow of Red Hill you find the Bambra Brothers grave in the bush and the headstone of Hannibal Richards of Hayle, Cornwall in a paddock along with the obvious remains of other graves. There is also the Old Chinese Cemetery at Vaughan but more than the Chinese were buried here as the grave of Mary Eynon and others reveal.

We have photographed the Headstones of the three main Cemeteries in the area Fryerstown, Guildford and Vaughan before time and weather obliterate them completely. In relation to the number of headstones there are many more graves as in a subsistence society so many could not honour their departed with a monument.

Click on the names of the towns listed here to view photographs taken around the area to show the scenery in the Australian Bush where our pioneers now rest. These photographs include the Bush settings of Fryerstown and Vaughan and the lovely flowers and trees of Springtime at Guildford.

In so many cases they came from another part of the world seeking a better life for themselves, their children and future generations. May they now all rest peacefully in the bosom of the Australian Bush.