The remains from the Old Sydney Burial Ground were removed by the Council to the new Necropolis at Haslem’s Creek in 1869, as required by the Cathedral Close Act. But the headstones didn’t make it. It was too difficult and time consuming to match headstones to remains in the overgrown cemetery and the Council was keen to get the town hall building works underway. Instead they erected a new imposing Classical styled sandstone monument at Rookwood. The inscription records the name of the Mayor but does not list any names of those buried in the old cemetery.

Erected
by the
Municipal Council
of the
City of Sydney
over the remains removed from
St Andrew's
Cathedral Close
George & Druitt Streets
Sydney
Used as a cemetery
prior to the year
1822.
Walter Renny
Mayor.

(image: Private Collection, Lisa Murray)