Sandgate Cemetery

32°52′08″S 151°42′22″E / 32.869°S 151.706°E / -32.869; 151.706TypePublicOwned byGovernment of New South WalesSize40 acres (160,000 m²)No. of graves85,000+WebsiteSandgate CemeteryFind a GraveSandgate Cemetery

Sandgate Cemetery is a necropolis in Sandgate, Australia, and has been continuously operating since 1881. The cemetery caters for all religious, ethnic and cultural requirements.^[1]

History

Sandgate Cemetery was opened in 1881 and has serviced the burial needs of Newcastle since that time. It is situated on crown land within the suburb of Sandgate, New South Wales. The cemetery is managed by a not for profit community organisation, Northern Cemeteries, through a Board of Trustees.

To service the new cemetery, a special Mortuary station was built in Newcastle. Special trams conveyed funerals from the suburbs to the Mortuary station then onward to a purpose built platform within the cemetery. Modern upgrades and changes continue to be made to this working cemetery. From January 1881^[2] until October 1985, a one kilometre railway line that branched off the Main Northern railway line existed. It was latterly served by two Sunday only services from Newcastle. The line was closed at the request of trust to make way for additional burial plots.^[3]^[2]