Historians from the East Gippsland Historical Society will be conducting a tour at the Bairnsdale cemetery this Sunday evening, October 27 at 7pm.
The cemetery tour will take approximately 1-1.5 hours and will meander through the historic sections of the Bairnsdale Cemetery.
Cemetery walks contribute to the fundraising for the society’s museum, which is located at 40 Macarthur Street, Bairnsdale.
The museum has a large collection of local historical artefacts from the East Gippsland district, providing a fascinating look into the past.
There is also a large resource of historical documents and photographs that are accessible for those interested in researching local and family history.
Society members are available to assist with research enquires.
The museum is open to visitors on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and on the first Sunday of each month. Opening hours are from 10am to 3pm.
This cemetery tour will look at some of the district’s tragic and unusual stories of people who found their final resting place at Bairnsdale Cemetery.
One of the grave’s featured is for George Abbott.
George Abbott was born in England in about 1860 and came to Australia it was thought, seeking adventure as he came from a good family in England.
Shipping records show he made at least two trips to Australia as an apprentice aboard the ship Duke of Sutherland, which transported goods and passengers between London and Sydney.
He first arrived in Sydney in 1876 and it was thought that George left the vessel just more than a year later on another voyage to Sydney in 1878.
George was drowned about four miles from Lakes Entrance, near Lake Tyers when he went to the assistance of some men that had got into a smaller boat, from the schooner Magnolia.
The men were attempting to go to the shore but got into trouble in the squally conditions.
Abbott and another crew member, George Goodman attempted to save Christian Gronheit and his mate, Mr Wells, from drowning.
Abbott succeeded in rescuing Gronheit and Wells and got them to the beach but his fellow crew member had got into trouble and was being carrying out to sea.
Abbott went back into the surf but both men then were carried away by the rough conditions and drowned.
Sergeant Henry Goodenough, on making enquires, found that Abbott had an uncle at Lancefield, who has been able to confirm Abbot’s identity from a document found among his effects.
It was discovered that Abbott was very well connected in England, where he had left as an apprentice aboard the ship Duke of Sutherland.
When Abbott arrived in Australia and left the ship, he essentially disappeared.
In letters received by Sergeant Goodenough from Abbott’s relatives in England, they indicated that
they had no idea of his whereabouts.
George Abbott was buried at the Bairnsdale Cemetery, his headstone states “he had saved one life and lost his own in endeavouring to save another”.
He was only 22 years of age.
The headstone was erected by public subscription with Sergeant Goodenough and William Bird, the imperial Hotel licensee, the chief fundraisers.