Help restore the Burke Family Memorial

In the Williamstown Cemetery there is a family grave for the Burke and Menzies Families which has a headstone in significant danger of collapse.

The Burke-Menzies Grave is a double grave site with a large number of family members interred.

Burke Family members

Menzies Family members

The headstone reads as follows

In Loving memory of

Catherine

The beloved wife of

Andrew Burke

who died August 25, 1889 Aged 54 years

At rest

Also their children

Mary Ann Aged 5 years

Mary Jane Aged 5 years

James

Who lost his life in the Sewerage accident

April 12 1895, Aged 28 Years

Elizabeth

wife of Captain Masters

who with her husband and son Fred were

lost at sea Oct 1880

Asleep in Jesus

Also the above

Andrew Burke

who died Oct 1st 1899 Aged 69 Years

At rest

Elizabeth Burke, her husband Captain William Masters and their son Frederick died along with all hands, aboard the ship "RESULT" in October 1880. The ship was on its return journey from Newcastle, NSW after loading with coal. It was last seen entering Bass Strait by a passing ship.

James Burke died on Good Friday 1895(April12). He was working as shift foreman building the sewerage tunnel underneath the Yarra River (Spotswood to Port Melbourne) when he and 5 other men lost their lives when the tunnel they were working in collapsed.

The money that was paid to the family after James died is what funded the installation of the headstone. The money either was paid directly from Mr Arthur Robb or the Newspaper Crowdfunding that was done after the accident.

Due to the unstable soil within the Williamstown cemetery the monument has moved and tilted, with the headstone developing a large lean

The monument is registered under Heritage Victoria. It will require a permit for works.

After getting quotes for the restoration job it is going to cost around $15,000 to do the job.

The monument requires new footings, joint repairs and stone restoration.