rookwood

Note the overhead wires for the trams.

Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection See my photograph (s) here

John Cowper That's a brilliant "Now" and "Then" set! AB

"...The single station on the branch line when it opened was called Haslem's Creek Cemetery. Its name was changed to Necropolis prior to 1872 and changed again to Mortuary General Cemetery on 16th July 1897. It was then changed to Cemetery Station No 1 15th June 1908 when the Roman Catholic Platform, which had been opened on 31st December 1901, had its name changed to Cemetery Station No 2. Mortuary Station No 3, which opened on 26th May 1897, became known as Mortuary Terminus two months later. Its name was changed to Cemetery Station No. 3 in June 1908 to create uniformity between the station names within the cemetery. The line's name was changed to the Rookwood branch line on 1st January 1914. No trace remains of it today except for the points and a short section of track that led to the cemetery line beyond Lidcombe station. The No. 1 Mortuary Station was constructed in 1864 and remained in use as the main station until the line's closure in December 1948. It was used as a chapel until 1958 when a fire gutted its interior. The Gothic-style building was then dismantled and re-erected stone by stone in Canberra as All Saints Anglican Church in the parish of Ainslie . The Redfern Mortuary Terminal, Regent Street, Redfern, from which trains left the city on their journey to Rookwood, was opened in 1869 and closed simultaneously with No 1 Mortuary Station at Rookwood Cemetery. St Paul's Anglican Church (which is today The Greek Orthodox Church), 242 Cleveland Street, Redfern, was the church where Anglican funeral services were held prior to the departure of funeral trains from the nearby Mortuary Station..."

The Austin A40 4-door saloon was built from 1947-1952. This photo, then, cannot have been taken before 1947. But seeing that the Mortuary station ceased operations in December 1948, and noticing timber planks & other building material leaning against the building in the above photo, it would seem that the station was no longer operational in this photo, which could have been taken some time from 1949 onward.

I bet that is James Barnet (1827-1904), aged about 40, if these photos are c.1865.
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/barnet-james-johnstone-2939
nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23182639

See also -

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpeters] Indeed! Here is a GoogleMapsSatelliteView showing the position of No.1 Station. If you then pull out a bit you can see the course of the old railway along what is now William Drive, Barnet (now there's a clue!) Avenue, and Memorial Avenue. (willing to be proved wrong by any cemetery railway buff)

Here we go - the SLNSW has a Government Printing Office version of this photo attributed to Charles Pickering (photographer) and dated 17/3/1871 - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=412132

And several more in the series - trove.nla.gov.au/work/15614293?q=rookwood&c=picture

There is subsequent instance in 1872 of Charles Percy Pickering doing work for the NSW Government "under the direction of James Barnet Esq., Colonial Architect" (on the title page) in this wonderful album "Photographs of Public and Other Buildings" - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=442753

Included in that album is yet another photo of the "Mortuary Haslem Creek (south end)" with James Barnet dressed the same and others loitering awkwardly - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/album/ItemViewer.aspx?itemid=823409&am...

Found on Flickr! Thomas Duckett, the sculptor of the angels -

How was this dated at 1865? See similar carriages in a Powerhouse Museum photo: www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2376882538/

The photograph had been dated by StateRail before the collection was transferred to State Records from the StateRail archives. That is the date we put in our catalogue. However we do acknowledge that Rookwood No.1 Station did not officially open until 1869.

Thanks State Records NSW - that might help date the Powerhouse photo.

One of these stations ended up in Canberra as a church! see www.flickr.com/photos/miss_sonia/366757702/ Is this not the same one? Or is this image reversed!! It can happen some times! see also www.flickr.com/photos/das_simonster/2348809253/

Hi Spelio Yes the station was moved stone by stone to Canberra in 1957. The following link has an image showing the bell tower on the left like in our image www.sydneyarchitecture.com/GON/GON11.htm Not sure how to explain the difference in appearance. It's a mystery!