Don Congregational Cemetery

The Don Congregational Cemetery is one of the oldest in the State of Tasmania. At rest in this historical patch of ground are many of the Don Pioneers, many of these men and women were the original pioneers of the City of Devonport and its surrounding district The Congregational Church at River Don was opened on December 28 1862.

First Known burial

I regret having to announce a fatal accident that occurred on Monday, the 17th inst. A Miner's wife named Hodgkiss was coming down to the Don Stores. She lived up the tramway but on the opposite side of the river and had to cross the latter on a tree. She was accompanied by her two children, aged three years and seven months respectively. She appears to have left the youngest while she took the eldest across and it is supposed from the appearance of the tree that she slipped off and both sank to rise no more. The river was searched all day and about 6 o'clock in the evening her body was found, but up to the present time the little girl has not. An inquest was held on Wednesday, before C. Friend Esq. and a jury , Mr. M. Philbrock, foreman and after the examination of witnesses, a verdict of found drowned was returned. Today the funeral took place in the new cemetery, which was used for the first time. A sad and melancholy commencement.

The Examiner Tuesday 25th October 1864 T

he body of the little girl who was drowned was found by her father on Saturday morning. An inquest was held in the afternoon and it was interred in the cemetery on Sunday. A subscription was entered into and upwards of seven pounds inscribed for the unfortunate man.

The Examiner Tuesday 1st November 1864