Mount Thompson Crematorium

The crematorium was the first in Queensland and was constructed after many decades of lobbying and public discussion, culminating in a group of citizens meeting and forming the Brisbane Crematorium Limited in 1930. Shares were sold in the company and a suitable site was purchased in 1933.{{Cite book|title = At the end of the road: government, society and the disposal of human remains in the 19th and 20th centuries|last = Nicol|first = Robert|publisher = Centennial Park Cemetery Trust, Allen & Unwin|year = 1994|isbn = 1863737197|location = St Leonards, Sydney|pages = 353}}

Early designs were done by Richard Gailey, Junior (the son and business partner of Richard Gailey).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21786099 |title=Cremation for Brisbane |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=2 March 1932 |accessdate=15 March 2014 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023335/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/21786099 |url-status=live }} However, Melbourne architects Charles and Frank Heath were appointed as the crematorium designers and worked in partnership with Brisbane architects GHM Addison and Son and HS Macdonald who prepared further plans and specifications.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1134400 |title=At Mt. Gravatt |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=25 October 1933 |accessdate=27 September 2015 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023337/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1134400 |url-status=live }}

{{Multiple image|align = center|title = Proposed but unused plans|image1 = Mount Thompson Crematorium, plans for front elevation, 1932.JPG|caption1 = Mount Thompson Crematorium, early proposed plans for front elevation, 1932.|image2 = Mount Thompson Crematorium, ground plan, 1932.JPG|caption2 = Mount Thompson Crematorium, early proposed ground plan, 1932|width1 = 191|height1 = 447|width2 = 236|height2 = 1932}}

Artist William Bustard was engaged to work on a canvas mural representing the awakening from death which was positioned over the catafalque in the chapel.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article182881914 |title=The Brisbane Crematorium |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Brisbane |date=5 June 1934 |accessdate=27 September 2015 |page=15 |edition=Late City |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023336/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182881914 |url-status=live }}

Sculptor Daphne Mayo was commissioned to create three relief works, Grief and Hope for the front facade and one of a boy scattering seed, representing the continuation of life, for the original columbarium.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35648640 |title=The Women's World |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=6 September 1934 |accessdate=27 September 2015 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023331/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35648640 |url-status=live }}

{{Multiple image|align = center|image1 = Daphne Mayo and Grief.JPG|image2 = Mount Thompson Crematorium Brisbane-Bustard Christensen mural comparison.jpg|width1 = 120|width2 = 252|caption1 = Daphne Mayo working on the sculpture Grief for the Mount Thompson crematorium (1934)|caption2 = Awakening from death (aka Lifting the veil of convention)

Left: Original mural on canvas being worked upon by William Bustard in 1934 at the Crematorium

Right: Reproduction of mural by Scott Christensen (2008)|header = Crematorium artworks}}

File:Mount Thompson Crematorium Brisbane-First cremation-1934-09-11.jpg

Mount Thompson Crematorium officially opened on Sunday 9 September 1934.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71150550|title=Cremation in Brisbane |date=19 September 1934|newspaper=The Worker|accessdate=25 July 2019|issue=2263|location=Brisbane|volume=45|page=6|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=11 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311074341/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71150550|url-status=live}} The first cremation service was held on the morning of 11 September 1934.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181379256 |title=First Cremation in Brisbane |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Brisbane |date=11 September 1934 |accessdate=27 September 2015 |page=1 |edition=City Final Last Minute News |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023343/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181379256 |url-status=live }} A religious service for Neil Richmond Rose of Wynnum, Queensland was held at 10.30am followed by a non-religious one for Ernest Charles Fletcher of Ularunda Station, central Queensland at 2.30pm.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35632316 |title=First Local Cremations |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=11 September 1934 |accessdate=27 September 2015 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023332/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35632316 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181379106 |title=Dignified Simplicity |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Brisbane |date=11 September 1934 |accessdate=27 September 2015 |page=8 |edition=City Final Last Minute News |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023341/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181379106 |url-status=live }}{{Cite book|title = Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens cremation register index, 10 September 1934 – 17 November 1941, the first 5000: A–Z|publisher = Genealogical Society of Queensland Incorporated|year = 1994|isbn = 1864300191|location = Queensland, Australia|pages = 26, 70|volume = 1}}

During the Second World War, there were 88 Australian service personnel cremated here whose remains rest at the crematorium and are commemorated by Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial here.{{cite web|title=Mount Thompson Crematorium|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2027702/MOUNT%20THOMPSON%20CREMATORIUM|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|access-date=25 May 2020}} Another 36 Australian service personnel cremated here whose remains were scattered or buried at places where CWGC commemoration was not possible are commemorated on the CWGC's Queensland Cremation Memorial in Lutwyche Cemetery.{{cite web|title=Queensland Cremation Memorial, Brisbane|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2022515/QUEENSLAND%20CREMATION%20MEMORIAL,%20BRISBANE|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=16 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317104309/https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2022515/QUEENSLAND%20CREMATION%20MEMORIAL,%20BRISBANE|archive-date=17 March 2018}} They included First World War fighter ace Roy Phillipps who was killed flying while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941.{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2243402/PHILLIPPS,%20ROY%20CECIL|title=Casualty Details: Phillipps, Roy Cecil|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=8 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317164657/https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2243402/PHILLIPPS,%20ROY%20CECIL|archive-date=17 March 2018}} In addition a Royal Australian Artillery soldier cremated here is, exceptionally, commemorated on the Victoria Cremation Memorial in Melbourne.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2774364/brew,-william-noel/|title=Casualty Details|access-date=2 August 2022|archive-date=2 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802023340/https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2774364/william-noel-brew/|url-status=live}}

Over the years further columbaria and gardens were constructed, adjacent land acquired and facilities expanded. By 1962 an additional chapel had been built, designed by Adrian Pooley.{{Cite web|url = http://www.mtthompsoncrem.com.au/our-facilities/east-chapel|title = East Chapel|accessdate = 26 September 2015|website = Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium|publisher = InvoCare|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151004030543/http://www.mtthompsoncrem.com.au/our-facilities/east-chapel|archive-date = 4 October 2015|df = dmy-all}} The new chapel was designated the East Chapel and the original, the West Chapel.

Renowned architect Karl Langer received commissions in the 1960s to design a number of new columbaria and to modify the West Chapel including new pews, kneeling rails, a new marble lined pulpit and removal of Bustard's original mural with reworking of the walls and catafalque surrounds.‘West Chapel alterations July 1962’, ‘West Chapel alterations October 1966’, Karl Langer architectural drawings, [Roll 3/6, R83/3/6], [Roll 21/8, R83/21/8], State Library of Queensland

File:Mount Thompson Crematorium Brisbane-West Chapel interior 2015.jpg

The West Chapel underwent five months restoration commencing in 2007 and reopening in February 2008. The chapel was returned to its original configuration with removal of pews and installation of single chairs as well as restoration of terrazzo flooring, lead lighting and the catafalque and its surrounds. A reproduction by Scott Christensen of William Bustard's original mural painting was also commissioned and installed.{{Cite journal|title = Mt Thompson West Chapel re-opens her doors|date = 2008|journal = Involve Invo|publisher = InvoCare|issue = 13 May 2008|page = 10}}

The East Chapel was also refurbished in the 2000s with modern lighting, podium work and contemporary seating installed.

The original 1934 crematorium building is art deco in style. It is a brick structure with stone facings including a portico flanked with stone pillars. It included originally a chapel, mortuary, retort room, columbarium garden, pond and offices. Large arched openings overlook a columbarium garden and pond. The walls of the chapel are lined with a dado of Queensland marble in black and dove grey. The floor is terrazzo with marble borders.

The crematorium is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.{{cite BrisbaneHR|873|Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium|accessdate=14 March 2014}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Mount Thompson crematorium}}

• {{official website}}
• {{Find a Grave cemetery}}

{{Cemeteries in Queensland|state= collapsed}}

Category:Crematoria in Australia

Category:1934 establishments in Australia

Category:Cemeteries in Brisbane

Category:Holland Park, Queensland

Category:Cemeteries established in the 1930s