I See Dead People

Bolton Street Cemetery

When Julie and I first visited Wellington (as part of our "should we move, or should we not" tour) we decided to test our physical health (fail) by walking the Botanic Gardens. So, that adventure begins with the cable car up to Kelburn and then a very steep descent into Wellington proper.  At the end of the "painful" tramp is the Bolton Street cemetery. Little did we know then that the cemetery is located across the street from our temporary lodging here at the Bolton Hotel.

Julie and I both have always shared a fascination with old cemeteries. They are special places loaded with so much history, beauty, reverence and peacefulness.... hard to describe exactly -- suffice to say we think they are pretty cool. You can imagine the lives of the people buried; reflect on how fragile the lives of so many young children were back in harder times; marvel at the longevity of others... again cool -- makes you feel small and strangely humble.

Square area is a mass grave and sculpture garden

The Bolton Street Cemetery is the permanent home to people who passed between 1840 and 1892. It is a public cemetery meaning it is shared by all the townspeople of the day, as opposed to be tied directly to a given faith. This modern concept was all the rage in England back then and Bolton decided to embrace those liberal ideas. Liberal or not, the idea didn't fly all too well with various religious denominations so areas within the public cemetery were designated for different beliefs. Anglican, Jewish and "Public" areas were thus created. Roman Catholics decided to take a different route and were buried at a separate place closer to Kelburn.

Notice the elevated motorway towering over many graves

Urban creep was bound to occur and in 1960's a motorway was proposed that would devastate the sacred ground. Action groups of the day resisted this, and while they were not entirely successful at saving many of the graves, they did manage to have the cemetery declared a historic place. This meant that at least some graves were spared although some 3700 bodies were exhumed and relocated to a memorial vault. The headstones remained in the appropriate denominational area of the graveyard.

Today the cemetery is part of the Botanic garden and under the management and control of the gifted staff. The tradition of planting roses beside the graves is continued and as a nod to environmentalists going back to the 19th century, many unique trees are also part of Bolton. There are some 200 different kinds of trees including some very rare varieties.

Unique trees and flowers maintained by the crew of the Botanic Gardens

The Bolton Street Cemetery is also the beginning of the 6 hour, "City to Sea" tramp that goes from Wellington to the Cook Strait. A difficult hike that features a wide range of experiences, views and pathways. Not sure we are quite ready to retest or physical health... maybe soon? I wonder if there are any pubs along the way.  Motivation is so important! ;-)