Hazledean (Eton Range) Cemetery
Location: Junction of Ready and Holmes Street, Hazledean via Eton, Queensland.
Local Government Authority: Mirani Shire Council
Access: Public Access. On the Peak Downs Highway proceeding from Mackay towards Nebo. The Cemetery is located just past Black Waterhole Creek approximately 4.5 kms from the Top of the Eton Range. Once over the creek slow and turn left into Ball Street then left into Ready Street and the cemetery is located at the end on the right where you see the sign for Holmes Street
History: The Township of Hazledean was created after the Travellers' Rest Hotel was built on the western bank of Black Waterhole Creek about 1863 allegedly by a man named Smith. Smith operated the hotel for less than a year before selling to pioneer James Ready who operated the hotel till about 1871. James Ready prior to becoming licensee operated a Bullock Wagon between Nebo and Mackay. Hazledean is about halfway between Nebo and Mackay so it would have been a popular stop with travellers and bullock teams. The hotel at the time had slab walls and a shingle roof. The name was changed to the Range hotel in the early 1900's. It appears the original hotel was demolished and rebuilt by Alexander William MacLean after he became the licensee in 1910 possibly around 1915. The new building was made of timber and corrugated iron with some of the material coming from the Mount Flora copper mines.
The Range hotel was destroyed by fire early on the morning of Friday, March 2, 1990. All that remains are concrete steps.
The township was actually surveyed in the late 1800's and gazetted and town lots were purchased by people in Mackay mainly including many early recognisable pioneers. However the township never took off and the hotel was the only building in the township until the 1990's.
Number of Burials: at least 7 as per the Mackay and St. Lawrence burial registers.
Notes: The Cemetery only has two identifiable graves.
Burials:
| Surname | First Names | Death Date | Age | Notes |
| BAKER | Elizabeth Jane | 27 June 1892 | 54 years | Entry No. 6025. |
| GARDNER (Headstone exists) |
Robert Charles | 2 June 1934 | 3 yrs 10 mths | Entry No. 13319. |
| HAYES | Mary | 2 November 1892 | 34 years | Entry No. 275 (St. Lawrence Register). Died 2 weeks after giving birth to twin girls leaving 8 children. |
| MOFFATT (Headstone exists) |
William | 8 July 1884 | 38 years | Entry No. 3477. Son of James MOFFATT and Elizabeth THOMPSON. |
| MONTGOMERY | James | 3 August 1883 | 53 years | Entry No. 2412. No parents names given on death registration. |
| PERRY (Headstone exists) |
Charles William | 11 November 1889 | 16 years | Entry No. 5389. Son of
Charles PERRY and Mary Jane MOFFATT. Charles Perry was the licensee of the Travellers' Rest Hotel from 1881-1889 and 1892-1896. Headstone indicates he died after a fall from a horse. |
| TYMONS | James Blood | 22 October 1872 | 35 years | Entry no. 148. Son of James TYMONS and Frances BLOOD. He was the first doctor at Fort Cooper (Nebo) and was killed after a fall from a horse. His grave is apparently outside the area of the cemetery under the road on Ready Street! |
Sources:
The Daily Mercury, Saturday, March 3, 1990. page 55
Mackay Burial Register, Mackay City Council.
Shamrocks Among the Gumtrees, by Carmel Macdonald, (1994)
Queensland Pioneers Index 1829-1889.
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Mackay
Historical Society
© Mackay Historical Society and Museum
Incorporated 2001-2006.
page created 26 February 2004.
last updated 19 August, 2006
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Site maintained by Glen
Hall.