Extract from 'Stories of the Southside' by Beryl Roberts.
In it, she mentions the
cemetery at Archerfield. Article begins.
God's Acre -- Archerfield
Along Beatty Road, near the entrance to Archerfield Aerodrome, there is
a small plot of land tucked away which is the resting place for some 177
human remains. Known as "God's Acre", the few remaining headstones bear
mute vigilance to one of Brisbane's first cemeteries. Today, as a
small, somewhat neglected burial site, there is little indication of its
fascinating history.
The Archerfield Cemetery began in 1859. Thomas Grenier, who then owned
the land that is now Archerfield Aerodrome, was one of the earliest free
settlers to the Brisbane area. He later became one of Brisbane's first
Aldermen and represented the Valley Ward in 1867. Thomas Grenier's son,
Volney Grenier, had the misfortune to die when thrown from his horse
during a fox hunt. So Thomas Grenier fenced off the site, proclaimed it
to be a cemetery and sadly buried his son there on 26 Ocotber 1859.
In 1925, the cemetery was changed from a private cemetery into a public
one. Because the remains of so many of the early settlers of the area
are buried there, this site now takes on the status of a valuable
pioneer cemetery. Pioneer familes such as the Greniers, Calams,
Boylands and Comptons are but a few of the better known founding settles
who are buried there.
The last recorded burial in "God's Acre", before it was officially
closed, was that of Miss Olive Grenier, the 81 year old granddaughter of
Thomas Grenier. She was buried there in July 1980. During and after
World War II, there was much discussion and debate about the acquisition
of the cemetery land, removal of headstones and the removal of the
remains to other sites.
Files of the Coopers Plains ' Archerfield "God's Acre" Cemetery are held
by the Genealogical Society of Queensland at Woolloongabba and the
Sunnybank Historical Society, attached to the Sunnybank State High
School.
Next time you are passing along Beatty Road, give a thought to, or even
better still, pull over and have a look at, the small but significant
"God's Acre". This plot remains as a valuable reminder of our early
local history.