Beechworth Chinese Cemetary

Beechworth Chinese CemetaryThe Beechworth Chinese Cemetary located in the Balaclava Road Beechworth Cemetery. There is an excellent self guided tour map which can be collected at the front gates of the cemetery and is well worth the gold coin donation. The chinese made a significant percentage of the mining population in the Beechworth goldfields and following the Buckland riots of July 1857 the increased dramatically to around 5000.

The area around Lower Stanley Road soon became beechworth's 'Chintown' complete with there own shops, Joss house and temple. Following Beechworth Cemetery opening in 1856 the Chinese burning towers were buit in 1857. The towers were used for burning offerings of paper prayers, pork and wine for the dead. Mourners would also use exploding crakers to scare the evil spirits away. They were not used for the cremation of people. In 1883-1884 the alter in front of the burining towers was built.

It is interesting to note that the Beechworths Chinese Cemetery is located on a hill-slope which is considered an auspicious custom amongst the Southern Chinese. Further supporting the belief that many of Beechworth's chinese miners were from southern China is the presence of the burning towers used for offerings. In northern China the paper prayers and offerings are burned next to the grave. 

Henry Ah Yett - The last chinese person to be buried at the Beechworth Chinese Cemetery

The Beechworth Chinese Cemetery is the resting place for aproximately 2000 Chinese

Chinese Burning Towers

Beechworth Chinese Cemetery

 

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