Lutwyche Cemetery in Kedron is one of the oldest and among the most historic cemeteries still operational in Brisbane’s northside. Built around 1878, the site now covers 15 acres of burial ground for locals, war heroes, and VIPs.
Following a public meeting in 1876, the local government assessed that there was a need to build a new cemetery in the northern suburbs to prevent overcrowding at nearby suburbs’ cemetery. Henry Craig offered to sell his land with substantial trees by Gympie Road for $616.
First Burial in Lutwyche Cemetery
Walter Silcock, a five-year-old child, was the first person buried at the Lutwyche Cemetery on the 4th of Aug 1878. He was the fourth child among nine siblings and the son of Leonard Silcock and Ellen Cuthbert. His gravesite was marked No. 1 on Section 46 and could be found near the cemetery’s gazebo
Lutwyche Cemetery was then known as the Kedron Brook Cemetery but it was renamed after Judge Lutwyche’s death who was a resident of the area.
Lutwyche Cemetery War Graves Section
At the height of World War II, a War Graves section was built at the Lutwyche Cemetery to bury 389 soldiers, both unidentified and identified. The remains of nine servicemen from World War I were also moved to this section, including three soldiers who were not Australian.
The War Graves section, identified by the Cross of Sacrifice landmark, is separated into three distinct areas:
- the right section, the oldest section, had gravesites marked in bronze and stones with a flat plaque.
- the middle section is for those who died while on active service.
- the left section is one of the newest addition in the cemetery and has a more modern and seamless grave marking.
Notable People Buried at the Lutwyche Cemetery
Among the most notable personalities buried at the Lutwyche Cemetery include:
| Charles Moffatt Jenkinson | Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and former Mayor of Brisbane |
| Lionel Lukin | Supreme Court of Queensland Judge |
| Billy Sing | World War I Sniper |
| Buddy Williams | Australian country music pioneer |
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Lutwyche Cemetery also has the remains of the infamous John Andrew Stuart who was convicted for firebombing the nightclub Whiskey Au Go Go in the 1970s, killing 15 people. Stuart apparently protested his incarceration by going on a hunger strike in his cell. He was buried in 1979.
Lutwyche Cemetery Today
Today, Lutwyche Cemetery is managed and maintained by Toowong Cemetery. It has new monumental burial sites that allow those to be buried to choose their own gravesite designs and expressions. The cemetery also allows for re-use of family graves if the last burial was 30 years ago.