Nearby plentiful existing houses and the Riverstone Cemetery
Blacktown Council has chronicled a Plan of Management - Oct 2023 for the vital role of Riverstone Cemetery within the Marsden Park North Precinct
The nearby Riverstone Cemetery appears slightly below the land level of the Johnston siblings 10 Lots that are bounded by Milton Rd, Marsden Lane and Chaucer Rd
View to south towards toilets and columbarium walls with vegetation behind
"About Riverstone Cemetery
Riverstone Cemetery is a traditional rural cemetery of monumental graves, situated at the corner of Cemetery Road and Garfield Road West, Angus. The land was originally dedicated in the late 1890's to service the needs of the growing community.
Set among stands of gum trees, sections are set aside to accommodate Catholic, Church of England, Methodist, Muslim, Non-Sectarian and Presbyterian interments.
The recent addition of our Memorial Garden now provides for placement of ashes in either our columbarium walls, garden sites or specialty ash cylinders. Memorialization without ashes is also available. On 28 October 2020, Council adopted a plan of management for Riverstone Cemetery. The plan of management identifies our vision, objectives and action plan for the cemetery."
To October 2019, the Cemetery had approximately 5,000 burials, with an unknown number of ash interments within graves.
In 2018/19:
* 130 burial plots were sold
* 118 burials took place, 108 of which were first interments."
• The Cemetery site is listed as Heritage Item I97 (local significance) under Blacktown LEP 2015
• Established in 1892, with burials commencing in 1894. The Cemetery’s significance relates to it being the town cemetery for the growing area of Riverstone (and surrounds) and containing:
o the remains of early settlers of the area
o examples of archaeological features of the late 19th century.
• The Cemetery also has Aboriginal significance with surface artefacts identified during construction works in and around the site. The area more broadly has been identified as having ‘high archaeology sensitivity’ and as an area that is ‘culturally sensitive’
• The western two-thirds of the site are biodiversity certified under SEPP (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006
• Stands of native trees are located in parts of the site that have not been previously used for burial purposes
• The eastern third of the site is subject to flood impacts (1:100 ARI)
• The site gently slopes down from the west/rear to Cemetery Road at an approximate gradient of 2.5%."
The Cemetery is included in the Marsden Park North Precinct, for which a draft Indicative Layout Plan was exhibited in September 2018. Under that Plan, the Cemetery will be adjoined by:
• Environmental Conservation zoned land to the west, south and east
• ‘Low Density Residential – Scheduled Lands’ to the north.
The Marsden Park North Precinct will include low and medium density residential zoned land and supporting land uses including a range of community, commercial and open space areas.
The Riverstone Cemetery Conservation Management Plan, endorsed by Council in December 2011, identifies the following features of the Cemetery as being of significance:
a. It has social significance because it is a living monument. It is an operational necropolis where interments have occurred since 1894. It has ongoing importance to the community as it is still used today and reflects current culture and values.
b. The cemetery contains graves commemorating prominent local families who were the early settlers of Riverstone whose lives enriched the history and development of Riverstone and the surrounding region.
c. It has archaeological significance because it displays European settlement burials as seen by the headstones and monuments.
d. It is the only cemetery in Riverstone and the site reflects a visual continuity from the 19th century to current day. This is not only found in the chronological events but also via its ongoing use by other cultural groups who are reflective of the community.
e. The cemetery is an important surviving fragment of the 19th century cultural landscape and has aesthetic significance to the community.
f. It has research significance because it has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of local history.
g. Many descendants of people buried within the cemetery, live in the district and hence there is a strong connection to the cemetery, which becomes evident on days such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and other days of religious or cultural importance.
View to south towards toilets and columbarium walls with vegetation behind
Recently constructed memorial walls and gardens
