Alberton Cemetery

The Alberton Cemetery is one of Victoria’s oldest and most historically significant burial sites, offering a poignant glimpse into the region’s early settler history. Originally surveyed in 1846 by Commissioner Charles Tyers, the cemetery’s first recorded burial was that of Robert McClure, who passed away in 1842. However, local folklore suggests that earlier grave markers, carved from wood and dating back to 1823 and 1833, once stood along the banks of the Albert River. These markers are believed to have belonged to whalers and sealers who navigated the rugged wilderness of Bass Strait, long before the discovery of Port Albert in 1841.

In the early years of European settlement, burial parties arrived by boat along the Albert River, which explains why many of the cemetery’s earliest graves are located close to the water’s edge. Over time, the elements have taken their toll on the site: many old headstones have become illegible, wooden fences and memorials have decayed, and some structures have been washed away by floodwaters.

Despite the wear and tear of time, the cemetery remains a poignant reminder of the isolation and hardship faced by early settlers. The gravestones bear witness to the courage and perseverance of those who lived on the frontier of a harsh and unforgiving landscape. One of the most heartbreaking stories is that of William and Agnes Howden, who lost four of their children in a short span of just over a month:

• Florence – died 7 May 1860, aged 6 weeks
• William Alexander – died 14 January 1872, aged 10 years
• Franklyn – died 17 January 1872, aged 5 years
• Percy – died 15 January 1872, aged 6 weeks
• Walter Henry – died 18 February 1872, aged 20 months

Sadly, other members of the Howden family did not fare much better:

• Arthur Rutherford – died 2 January 1900, aged 19 years
• Frederick – died 27 October 1908, aged 35 years

However, William Ballany Howden, the father, lived to 78 years of age before passing away on 11 November 1894. His wife Agnes Elizabeth died two years later, on 9 September 1896, aged 55.

Another poignant memorial in the cemetery is that of Robert John McKenzie, who passed away in 1855, just five weeks old. His tragic story continued when, two years later, his father was struck by lightning while returning from Little River by boat.

The cemetery also holds the remains of Vaino Armas Balhorn, a Finnish-born adventurer who sailed around Cape Horn three times before the mast. A decorated veteran of both World Wars, he passed away in Yarram in 1970 and is buried at Alberton Cemetery.

Throughout the 19th century, Port Albert witnessed the tragic loss of life in several shipwrecks. Between 1841 and 1895, twenty major shipwrecks occurred near the coast, including the Saracen, Macclesfield, and Eclyptic, all of which resulted in loss of life. Epidemics, drownings, and various accidents also contributed to the toll on the early community.

Today, the Alberton Cemetery serves not only as a historical record of these difficult times but also as a monument to the courage, resilience, and determination of the early settlers who forged a life in this remote and often unforgiving landscape.