McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery, Heritage cemetery in Cairns North, Australia
McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery is a burial ground in Cairns North with several thousand grave sites spread across a large area. The grounds are bordered by native plants and feature a central rotunda structure.
The cemetery was established in 1877 as Cairns first burial ground and served as the main burial site until 1954. It records the early settlement and growth of the city during this formative period.
The cemetery sections reflect the multicultural population of early Cairns, with areas designated for different Christian denominations and separate spaces for Chinese, Malay, and Aboriginal communities.
The site is easy to navigate and features an information center that helps visitors understand the cemetery's history and layout. The natural surroundings with native plants make it a comfortable place to walk through.
The grounds contain the remains of Richard Ash Kingsford, the first mayor of Cairns, and Dr. Edward Koch, a medical pioneer who made important contributions to Queensland. These two figures played key roles in establishing healthcare and governance in the early city.
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