At rest at Kew Cemetery is David Syme and his family. According to Wikipedia David Syme immigrated to Australia in 1852. He voyaged on a badly provisioned vessel, and arrived at Sydney in half-starved condition. Syme took the first steamer to Melbourne and walked Castlemain (120 kms). He had some success in the gold fields. In 1855, at Mount Egerton, Syme and his partner almost obtained a fortune, but their claim, which afterwards became very valuable, was jumped by other men and they were unable to obtain recompense. Towards the end of 1855 he returned to Melbourne an became a road contractor. David Syme joined his brother as partner in the "The Age" in 1856. Today "The Age" is the leading Newspaper in Victoria. Contributed to Taphophile Tragics.
But David Syme is THE name from the historic foundations of The Age, not the other brother. Almost as though David were a claim jumper in his own way.
ReplyDeleteFascinating to know that such a pillar of the community started out with nothing and had to work bloody hard to get a foot hold.
That is an imposing mausoleum, Joe. Any idea when the most recent Syme was interred there?
I did read that David Syme joined his brother Ebenezer Syme at The Age and reluctantly took it over when Ebenezer retired. I didn't see any details on the mausoleum in relation to the recent Syme although there were plenty of others buried there.
DeleteThe most recent plaque I photographed was for Caroline Mary Syme Walford 1954 - 2010.
DeleteShame he had no luck at the gold fields, he might have built a bigger tomb. A good story.
ReplyDeleteBonitas fotos, gracias por tu visita y comentarios¡¡¡
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive monument!
ReplyDeleteHerding Cats
http://seathreepeeo.blogspot.com
Impressive!
ReplyDeleteHe had a humble beginnings but his life ended well....I guess that is what we all strive for a good ending? WELL done!!
ReplyDeleteAfter a shaky start he did well hey Joe..that's quite some mausoleum there! It looks like a structure you might see in Athens.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Joe. That is one grand monumental mausoleum! It looks an awful lot like Trajan's kiosk in Philae, see:
ReplyDeletehttp://nixpixmix.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/philae-egypt.html
Thanks for the link Nick. Yes there is a definite resemblance. The David Syme Mausoleum did contain a lot of Egyptian emblems.
DeleteFrom such humble beginnings, eh!
ReplyDeleteWhat a roller coaster ride his life was. This is a huge monument. Are family members buried within the structure or near it? Sorry to say, but I've never heard of Syme or The Age. Didn't even know there was a gold rush in Australia. Evidence of being woefully undereducated I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteAlmost like a Roman temple! Such an impressive, pillared resting place! I did not know these unusual beginnings of "The Age".
ReplyDeleteYikes, that is one GRAND ending to humble beginnings.
ReplyDeletehow big!
ReplyDeleteOnly David and his wife Annabella are buried in the tomb. The ashes of a later descendant were interred in 1997, Anne Elizabeth Syme.
ReplyDeleteThe plaques around the inside of the tomb are memorial plaques. 3 are of the couples 9 (some sources say there were 10) children; Francis, Alice and Caroline (the latter 2 having died in infancy) have plaques on the mausoleum but are interred elsewhere.
The tomb is based on Trajan's Kiosk and was designed by Butler and Bradshaw / Walter Richmond Butler.