Description Serpentine Creek Road Cemetery

willie fielding, aged 14



willie fielding s headstone, 2006

the serpentine creek road cemetery 2.023 hectare (5 acre) cemetery reserve located on eastern side of serpentine creek road, south of intersection scenic road, in southern redland bay. reserve, rectangular in shape, runs east-west along gravelly ridge, farms on 3 sides , frontage serpentine creek road. being remnant forest on side of serpentine creek road, , sited on rise, place prominently profiled on horizon.

several graves have been identified @ southwest corner of site, near road frontage. area has been cleared of saplings , undergrowth, leaving naturally re-vegetated eucalypts , grasses. remainder of block open woodland of principally casuarina, wattle , grass tree. there has been high level of disturbance of reserve through frequent fires , later grazing, may account high proportion of more resilient casuarina , wattle @ expense of other indigenous species such eucalypts , bloodwood. while there no old-growth trees on reserve, original mix of species survives, , there particularly high diversity of indigenous flora, including 1 species of wildflower found within reserve. vegetation mix similar in nearby serpentine creek conservation park, and, of redland bay s indigenous vegetation lost farming , encroaching residential development, remains important genetic exchange among plant species.

there wire , timber post fence along northern end of street frontage, no perimeter fence around graves. burnt remnants of post , top-rail fence, aligned east-west through centre of reserve, survive. these fences appear associated more later grazing of reserve cemetery.

there on dozen identifiable graves, names including dittman, doig, fielding, heinemann, sinclair , walker – redland bay farming families. graves face east, aligned in several rows running north-south. not clear whether have been arranged religious division. headstones survive, bearing dates ranging 1896 1909, , include work of monumental masons w bateson & sons of south brisbane, andrew lang petrie of toowong , j simmonds of brisbane. headstones , grave surrounds [including 2 cast-iron surrounds] have been damaged. prominent memorial in cemetery executed al petrie – sandstone obelisk, comprising plinth, shaft , column, marble plaque on eastern face bearing inscription: in loving memory of willie, son of wm , eliza fielding drowned in redland bay while attempting save life of others 30th dec 1905 aged 18 years . willie fielding died in boating accident involving number of teenagers. attempted save lives of others tragically drowned himself. body not found number of days eaten shark. remains buried on 8 january 1906 in largely attended funeral.