Portland Sunny Corner Road
Portland General Cemetery is divided into denominational portions, all signposted but without any row markers. They comprise Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian and Uniting portions as well as a small general section containing only two marked graves. There are also a small lawn cemetery, a columbarium and a memorial wall, all of recent date.
The cemetery is less than 100 years old, the earliest markers being dated 1909. The memorials are mostly marble and granite. We found many of the inscriptions on marble tablets dated in the 1950s and 1960s already extremely difficult to read - more so than most twice their age. Generally, however, the whole cemetery is in excellent condition and well maintained. We were not troubled by broken glass and saw no evidence of vandalism.
This list was compiled from digital images that Jean and I made of every visible inscription and from notes taken on site over three visits in December 2004. The list was updated on 22 February 2006. We also referred to the NSW index of births, deaths and marriages and the World War 2 Nominal Roll to clarify some hard to read names and dates and for further information.
From the Portland Post Office in Williewa Street, travel west to the end of the street and turn left into Lime Street. At the end of Lime Street, turn right into Sunny Corner Road from where it is 1.7km to the cemetery.
The cemetery is administered and maintained by the Lithgow City Council. Contact Council at PO Box 19 Lithgow NSW 2790; phone 02 6354 9999; email: council@lithgow.nsw.gov.au. Council is to be congratulated for its progressive attitude in now having its cemetery records and site maps for Lithgow and Portland cemeteries online.
22 Feb 2006