The 2025 Hamilton West Cemetery tour, part of NZ Cemeteries Week, was held in November, at the Willoughby Street, Whitiora site.
The free, popular event featured local historian Lyn Williams sharing stories behind the headstones of early Hamilton residents.
The heritage cemetery, operated between 1869 and 1975, holds much history and many of the city and region’s famed citizens lie in rest there. They include Waikato Hospital matron Elizabeth Rothwell, entrepreneur Thomas Jolly who named Frankton after his son Frank, Grandview landowner Richard Dillicar, Waikato Argus publisher George Escombe and dentist Alexander James Young.
Read: Hamilton Historic Cemeteries Heritage walks
One of the first headstones is that of Mary Ann Dillicar who was married to Richard Dillicar. The couple farmed in the Grandview area in the early 1880s. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Mary Jane Dillicar of Lake Street, was a victim of the Frankton tornado in 1948. She was one of three people killed in the August 25 tornado. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
There are a number of damaged headstones and railings including this one of Thomas and Rebecca Dinsdale who farmed in the suburb which now bears their name. Some gravestones have been removed and in other cases, families have marked graves with new plaques. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Names on many of the gravestones are illegible. Council Cemeteries manager Erin Harris recommends using washing up liquid, warm water and a soft brush to clean them up. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Hamilton historian Lyn Williams gestures towards a headstone during the city council’s annual cemetery tour at Hamilton West, next to Waikato Stadium, where she explored the fascinating stories behind the headstones. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Hamilton historian Lyn Williams gestures towards a headstone during the city council’s annual cemetery tour at Hamilton West, next to Waikato Stadium, where she explored the fascinating stories behind the headstones. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Patrick Corboy, who died in 1900 aged 67, was an Irish-born settler who emigrated from Australia in September 1863 and entered the Waikato militia: only six short months before the decisive battle at Ōrākau. For his services, Corboy was granted 50 acres of prime farming land. He went on to become Waipa Country chairman. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Muriel Jackson died in March 1920 and her stone backs onto one of the Waikato Stadium practice playing fields. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
One of the most impressive monuments is to Thomas Everton Kirk, who died a week after being injured in a rugby match at Gisborne. The monument was erected by the footballers of Gisborne and Waikato. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Some plots where gravestones have been damaged or removed have had them replaced by plaques, courtesy of family members. James Selkirk and Mary E Jack are case in point. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Newer graves for people like tinsmith Daniel Dee Hyde, who died in 1894, drew out his story from descendant Samantha. Photo: Mary Anne Gill (click on photo to find out more)
Newer graves for people like tinsmith Daniel Dee Hyde, who died in 1894, drew out his story from descendant Samantha. In 1882, the publicans of Hamilton, Frankton and Tamahere were ordered from supplying liquor to Daniel Dee Hyde on the application of his wife Mary Ann Hyde (nee Pevreal). Photo: Mary Anne Gill (click on photo to find out more)
The Rothwell Legacy: The Rothwell name has a significant and long-standing association with Hamilton and Waikato Hospital, with several family members providing key services and having hospital buildings named in their honour. Key members of the Rothwell family linked to the hospital include Elizabeth Rothwell (1863-1932): The daughter of Thomas (1820-1893) and Eleanor (1828-1893), who were settlers in the Waikato, she served as the matron (head nurse) of Waikato Hospital for 25 years. Benjamin (1860-1924) became a Methodist minister. Leah died aged 19 in 1892 after catching cold at the races.
Hamilton historian Lyn Williams gestures towards a headstone during the city council’s annual cemetery tour at Hamilton West, next to Waikato Stadium, where she explored the fascinating stories behind the headstones. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Mark Ryan of the RSA shows the grave and granite stone of Corporal Nicholas Herbert Allen who died on 29 February 1920. Allen, born at Reefton on the West Coast, was the son of Thomas and Maud Adeline Charlotte Allen (nee Leech). A veteran of the New Zealand Training Unit who had served in WWI, he died after being discharged from service due to disease contracted while on active service. He is buried at the Hamilton West Cemetery. His headstone and grave is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Ironically Private Philip Henry Prior, another WW1 veteran, died of disease on that date and is buried in Christchurch. He is remembered by the New Zealand War Graves Project and the Auckland Museum’s Online Cenotaph. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
