EMUNGALAN CEMETERY

Whilst the Palmerston to Pine Creek Railway was operational in 1889, very little further extension was considered until the Federal Government took over in 1911 and the Great War intervened in 1914-1918. A number of rail proposals were examined by the Commonwealth in this early period.

Emungalan became the terminal point of the extended Pine Creek Railway in 1918 and was situated on the north bank of the Katherine River until a design for a bridge over the river was considered and funded, this did not occur until 1926.

A small township sprang up on the southern terminus of the rail and allotments were pegged to provide for a Hotel, Stores etc in the 1918 to 1926 period. Some deaths occurred in this period before the Town of Katherine was pegged in 1926.

At Emungalan, some grave sites have been identified between the rail terminus and the later railway bridge site on the Katherine River. Steps are being taken with the Katherine Town Council, the Surveyor General and the Conservation Commission to physically survey the small site in 1989, sixty three years after the township transferred across the Katherine River in 1926 to the present Town of Katherine.

The Northern Territory Genealogical Society has attempted to secure details from all available sources of the deaths occurring at Emungalan in the 1918 to 1926 period. From sources in Katherine, the small area of land of the burial ground has been identified and the Mortuary Return details provide at least some of the facts about the people who were buried here. Hopefully, steps will be taken to complete the information about those buried in the small cemetery and the area preserved.

04/04/1919 Michael Kennedy
Aged 55 years 5'8", medium build, sallow complexion, hair turning grey, grey eyes. Killed between Two Mile Creek and Emungalan. Deceased, under the influence of alcohol, was riding a horse about 6.00pm 0l/04/1919. An hour later, 7.OOpm he was found by Harry Shadforth lying on the road and unable to get up stating he had fallen from his horse. He received every assistance from the Public but died on 04/04/1919. Deceased, a single man, was a settler at Springvale; friends not known. He resided for several years in the Territory. Death registered 15/04/1919
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26/11/1924 Gerald (Jerry) Buckley
Aged about 45 years, 5'10" tall. Slender build, sharp features, ordinary nose, grey eyes, black hair turning grey, moustache turning grey. Deceased arrived at Katherine 13/11/1924, appearing to be ill; on 25/I1/1924, M.C. (Mounted Constable) Cheyne spoke to deceased who requested to be sent to Darwin for medical attention. M.C. Cheyne arranged for a Railway Motor Quad and deceased was conveyed to Emungalan on 25/11/1924. Mr Cheyne attended to deceased up until the time of his death which occurred between 3.OOam and 4.OOam on 26/11/1924
Deceased died from natural causes. Deceased has a brother J.C. Buckley residing in Yass, NSW in Canberra District. Deceased is believed to be a native of Yass. Death registered 28/11/1924.

about 1923 Madge Thor (Miss)
Aged about 40 years, was ill, taken by C. O'Shea to Emungalan where she died.

??/??/?? Baby, Chinese Two weeks.
Parents had a store at Emungalan.

15/12/1925 Kitty (an Aboriginal)
Details from the Katherine Inquest Book (1887-1941) suggest that a verdict on the death was returned, of accidental death by the discharge of a gun while in the hands of Thomas Ryan. Kitty was buried near the old hotel at Emungalan - (not in the Cemetery).