Axedale Catholic Cemetery
2050 McIvor Highway, AXEDALE VIC 3551 - Property No 227799
Statement of Significance
The Axedale Catholic Cemetery, on Cemetery Road and McIvor Highway, established by Reverend Dr. Henry Backhaus in 1866, including the stone wall surrounding the cemetery.
How is it significant?The Axedale Catholic Cemetery is of historic, aesthetic and social significance to the City of Greater Bendigo.
Why is it significant?Historically, for its associations with Rev. Backhaus, who was the first Catholic priest for the goldfields and later the Vicar General for the newly formed Diocese of Sandhurst, as well as a substantial landowner in the Axedale district. Backhaus purchased the land for use as a Catholic Cemetery with his own funds; it remains a private facility. Also as tangible evidence of the large Irish Catholic population in Axedale from the 1860s, attracted by the gold rushes. This chapter of Axedale's history is recorded in its headstones. (Criterion H, A)
The fact that Axedale has a Catholic Cemetery is highly unusual and demonstrates both the wealth and influence of Dr Backhaus, and the depth of the sectarian divide in Axedale.(Criterion B)
Aesthetically, for demonstrating the art of the stone mason in the memorials, many of which date from the 1870s. Also for the stone wall around the cemetery - demonstrating the art brought by new emigrants from their home countries. (Criterion E)
Axedale Catholic cemetery is still in use and as such has social significance to the Axedale community. (Criterion G)
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