FOSBC

The Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery (FOSBC) is a dedicated group established in 2005 by three local women – Tracey Olivieri, Roma Waldron and Marilyn Paul. Their mission – restore and preserve the historical South Brisbane Cemetery, which had fallen into disrepair. The cemetery, located in the heart of Brisbane, is the final resting place of many significant figures from the city’s past, and the founders of FOSBC recognised the importance of maintaining this vital piece of Brisbane’s heritage.

 

Initially, the trio focused on cleaning the graves and surrounding grounds. They organized public cleaning days, often rolling up their sleeves to do the work themselves alongside community members. They also mapped and photographed every grave within South Brisbane Cemetery, all-the-while completing an enormous amount of research on the cemetery itself and its residents.

In 2007, the group began offering daytime cemetery tours to the public, providing an educational and engaging experience for visitors through sharing the fascinating stories they’d uncovered. The popularity of these grassroots tours grew, and in 2010, the FOSBC introduced night tours of South Brisbane Cemetery as an additional perspective and atmosphere for those interested in the cemetery’s history.

 

With a continued ground-swell of interest and community support, the ‘Friends’ have continued to grow – organising various community events, regular cleaning bees (Guardian Angels) and a series of engaging annual public talks and award-winning tours. These events not only help to maintain the cemetery, but also foster a salient sense of community whilst raising awareness for the preservation of our local history.

The group’s commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of those buried in South Brisbane Cemetery serves as a testament to the value of local history and the efforts of dedicated individuals working together to ensure it is not forgotten.

 

We are an active community, forever on the look-out for like-minded people interested in joining as we continue to develop and grow. Please contact us by email if you’d like to be a part of this great community experience.