Nyngan is a pleasant small town of around 2500 people on the Central West Slopes of NSW and styles itself as the “gateway to the great outback”. Its general cemetery is spread over a comparatively large site and comprises a monumental section divided into denominational portions, a small Chinese cemetery, a lawn cemetery dating from 1985 and a more recent columbarium, as yet little used. The grounds are well maintained, especially in the lawn cemetery area where lush lawns and gardens have been cultivated. Some seating is installed in the grounds, there is an amenities block that is handicapped friendly and weeds are under control.
The cemetery is on an old river bed, which has flooded over the years. This has resulted in damage such as fallen headstones, and piles of broken bricks and grave surrounds. 1990 was a 1 in 500 year flood, and it severely damaged the cemetery, undermining graves and causing headstones to fall. Rabbits have also caused problems over the years.
The monuments are mostly of marble and granite and, generally, are in good order and legible. Subsidence has resulted in a number of them cracking or leaning but few have actually fallen.
Reg & Jean McDonell visited the cemetery over several days during April 2005 and made digital images and notes of all visible inscriptions. In compiling the list of inscriptions they also consulted the NSW indexes of births, deaths and marriages and World War 1 and 2 Nominal Rolls for further information.
From the Nyngan CBD in Pangee Street, drive east to the end of the street where Cemetery Road runs at an angle to the right. Appropriately, the cemetery is at the end of the road.