Last updated 23Jun19
Westerman Graves
The Westerman Graves are located 150m up the gentle slope south of Westermans Homestead in the Namadgi National Park.
Location: GR 55H FA 77893-26630 (MGA94), Shannons Flat 8626-2S 1:25000
Westerman Graves, March 2013
Visits: 27 Aug 16, 30 Aug 14, 8 Jul 14, 23 Mar 13, 15 Mar 11, 28 Dec 10, 20 Jul 10, 24 Jun 08, 18 Mar 08
Documentation:
• KHA Namadgi database (private source). Site 880. 2 graves, in an enclosure marked by Hawthorn trees, roses & periwinkle. Elizabeth Shiels (nee Westerman) died of tubercolosis in 1922, aged 46. Due to severe floods in area it was impossible to get her remains away to a cemetery, so a coffin was fashioned from ceiling boards from one of the main rooms and she was buried here. Second grave is that of an un-named baby daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane Westerman. Refer Westermans Homestead 260.
• Gudgenby: A register of archaeological sites in the proposed Gudgenby National Park, J H Winston-Gregson MA thesis, ANU, 1978. Site B21 2-2. Site marked by large, solitary hawthorn bush and exotic ground creeper. See extracts of the relevant pages in the photos above.
• Plaque: “In loving memory of Elizabeth Mary Shiels loved daughter of Thomas & Mary Jane (nee Perry) Westerman 21.10.1876 – 26.7.1922 also her brother Baby Westerman died 1886. Erected by her relatives Jim Crawford, Dolly Oldfield and Bill Osmond 1991”.
• Signage: An unnamed still born baby of Thomas and Mary Jane Westerman was buried here in the 1880s. When Thomas and Mary Jane Westerman’s daughter, Elizabeth Sheils died here in 1922 of tuberculosis at the age of 46, there was a raging flood in the area. The family could not get her remains to the cemetery at Adaminaby, so the ceiling boards from the main bedroom were sawn down to make a coffin for her. An oilcloth ceiling replaced the wooden one, remnants of which can still be seen. In times of hardship, people had to make do with what they had. A small enclosure was fenced off to protect the graves from stock. It wasn’t until about 1991 that a memorial stone was placed at the graves here by the grandchildren of Thomas and Mary Jane.
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