Waterfall General Cemetery (Garrawarra) Off Old Princes Hwy Waterfall NSW 2233
Cemetery Address
Waterfall, NSW
Demonination/Area
Catholic
Row
K
Grave Number
17
Notes
The cemetery was historically managed by the Waterfall Sanatorium/Hospital.
There are over 2000 recorded burials in the cemetery. Only 30-50% of those who died at the Sanatorium in any given year were buried in the cemetery. Others were claimed by relatives or friends to be buried elsewhere.
The people buried at the site are a highly diverse range of individuals from across not only NSW, but also many incoming migrants from across the world.
Improvements in health care, including the introduction of antibiotics in the 1940s, led to a major decline in the number of tuberculosis deaths. The last burial at Waterfall General Cemetery occurred in 1949 and the site was subsequently abandoned.
The cemetery came into the care and control of Wollongong Council in 1967 along with a number of other cemeteries. By this time, the cemetery had fallen out of use and had become overgrown.
The cemetery came into the care and control of Wollongong Council in 1967 along with a number of other cemeteries. By this time, the cemetery had fallen out of use and had become overgrown.
The cemetery is located in an isolated area and is very overgrown. The site is surrounded by bushland owned by different state government departments and authorities and cannot be accessed using public roads.
Currently, Council has no legal access to the site.
Public access to the cemetery carries significant risks due to the site’s condition and secluded location. To reduce risks of harm and injury, public access to the site is discouraged. Access to the site into the future will be reviewed as part of the community consultation process.
Sources
Service Record - Australian National Archives
DVA Commemoration Details
