The Graveyard
Sextons
Jason Midgley 021 565 111Kohl Midgley 021 156 4666Graves, Burials, Funerals, Ash Memorial Wall, Plaques, Gravediggers, Permission for upgrading headstones
One of the Society’s missions is to recognise the historic significance of the cemetery and the settler families buried here by ensuring that, wherever possible, their descendants are accorded pre‑emptive burial rights.
Many descendants of Hobsonville’s nineteenth‑century families still have plots set aside and plan to be interred here when the time comes.
Code of Practice link here.
Information Sheet on Graves and Ash Wall for descendants of the early settler families buried in the graveyard link here. Hobsonville Church Graveyard Plan surveyed by AJ Ockleston May 1953 link here.Ash Memorial Wall Plan link here. Ash Memorial Wall plaque allocations link here. Hobsonville Settlers Cemetery list of graves dated 1985 link here.
We use Silverdale Landscape Services for Sexton services for grave digging. Silverdale Landscape Services burial confirmation checklist link here. Headstone and Plaque installersMonumental Headstones & Plaques 09 414 6963Total Monumental Services 027 338 6122
We use Silverdale Landscape Services for Sexton services for grave digging. Silverdale Landscape Services burial confirmation checklist link here. Headstone and Plaque installersMonumental Headstones & Plaques 09 414 6963Total Monumental Services 027 338 6122
Our Soldiers and Service Personnel Graves & Memorials in the graveyard - Lest We Forget
Visitor Information
The graveyard is open from dawn to dusk, and everyone is welcome to visit.Dogs are prohibited in the Cemetery, except for assistance dogs, or where the Society has given prior approval for a specific event (in whichcase dogs must be kept on a lead at all times).Entry to both the Church and the graveyard is through the red entrance gates, located near the corner of Scott Road and Clark Road.For safety and protection of the Church and grounds, security cameras are installed on the building and operate at night.
Walking ConditionsAfter rain, the Hobsonville clay can make the ground very soft and slippery.Please take care when walking through the cemetery, especially around older graves and uneven areas.
ParkingParking is available on the surrounding streets.Spaces can be limited during busy times, so please allow extra time to find parking.
Useful InformationA water tap and hose for refilling flower vases is located on the left-hand side of the Church, beside the graveyard steps.A padlocked bollard is in place at the entrance to prevent vehicles from entering the grounds.Two additional service gates - one on Scott Road and one on Clark Road - are padlocked and used by gravediggers, headstone installers, and grounds maintenance teams such as lawnmowing and arborist contractors.
There are no outdoor rubbish bins, so please take any rubbish away with you.
The graveyard is overlooked on the north and east boundaries by our neighbours at Ryman’s Keith Park Village. Scott Road borders the south boundary, and Clark Road borders the west.Graves are aligned east–west, with feet to the east and head to the west. All headstones face east - except for the Bernecker grave.
Walking ConditionsAfter rain, the Hobsonville clay can make the ground very soft and slippery.Please take care when walking through the cemetery, especially around older graves and uneven areas.
ParkingParking is available on the surrounding streets.Spaces can be limited during busy times, so please allow extra time to find parking.
Useful InformationA water tap and hose for refilling flower vases is located on the left-hand side of the Church, beside the graveyard steps.A padlocked bollard is in place at the entrance to prevent vehicles from entering the grounds.Two additional service gates - one on Scott Road and one on Clark Road - are padlocked and used by gravediggers, headstone installers, and grounds maintenance teams such as lawnmowing and arborist contractors.
There are no outdoor rubbish bins, so please take any rubbish away with you.
The graveyard is overlooked on the north and east boundaries by our neighbours at Ryman’s Keith Park Village. Scott Road borders the south boundary, and Clark Road borders the west.Graves are aligned east–west, with feet to the east and head to the west. All headstones face east - except for the Bernecker grave.
The 1875 Settlers' Cemetery (also called graveyard or churchyard)
The earliest recorded burials in the graveyard are in 1875, being young and newborn children, including - Allison Emma 'Alice' Lindsay (1874-1875) died 26 January 1875 aged 4 months of spina bifida. Alice is the second daughter of Mary (nee Carder) and Ebenezer Lindsay.Walter Douglas Carder (1873-1875) died 19 April 1875 aged 1 year and 11 months, gravesite unknown. Infant son of pottery works owner Walter Carder (1847-1907).Oliver Coley (1875-1875) died 4 August 1875 aged 20 days. Son of Jane and George Coley.
However it is suspected the graveyard may have been in use well before then, given European settlers were living in the district from the mid-1850's it does seem odd that there appear to have been no deaths in the district for 20 years.
However it is suspected the graveyard may have been in use well before then, given European settlers were living in the district from the mid-1850's it does seem odd that there appear to have been no deaths in the district for 20 years.
Burials and Early Cemetery Records
Approximately 50 children are buried in the Hobsonville Cemetery, the vast majority under two years of age. Among the adults, around a dozen died between the ages of 20 and 40, including several young married women. Yet the cemetery also reflects remarkable longevity: around 65 individuals reached at least 70 years of age, with six living to 90 or beyond.
In the earliest years, burials appear to have been carried out informally and without a consistent system. Any records that may have existed were not carefully kept, and some have since been lost. It was not until 1953 that Professor Allan Joshua Ockleston (1908–1988) - son of William Ockleston (1875–1953) and Jane Sinton (1879–1975), both buried in the cemetery - drew up the first organised plan of the graves. Even with this work, some irregularities remain, particularly in the centre of the cemetery where several plot lines are broken. Row F, for example, extends only halfway and contains just three graves.
At the same time the cemetery was being organised, new burial registers were compiled to record what could still be recovered of earlier interments. Unfortunately, many burials had already been lost to memory, and others were recorded only in the most basic terms, often without correct names, dates, or family details.
Today, we rely on the burial registers compiled by Mrs Valmai Ockleston (1909–2001). Valmai herself rests in the graveyard, alongside many members of the early Ockleston family.
One of the Society’s core missions is to honour the historic significance of the cemetery and the settler families buried here by ensuring that, wherever possible, descendants are given pre‑emptive burial rights.
A walk through the graveyard reveals Hobsonville’s deep connection to the brick and pottery industry. Many monuments commemorate significant ceramic manufacturers - including Clark, Carder, and Vazey - as well as other notable Hobsonville potters such as Cater, Holland, and Ockleston.
In the earliest years, burials appear to have been carried out informally and without a consistent system. Any records that may have existed were not carefully kept, and some have since been lost. It was not until 1953 that Professor Allan Joshua Ockleston (1908–1988) - son of William Ockleston (1875–1953) and Jane Sinton (1879–1975), both buried in the cemetery - drew up the first organised plan of the graves. Even with this work, some irregularities remain, particularly in the centre of the cemetery where several plot lines are broken. Row F, for example, extends only halfway and contains just three graves.
At the same time the cemetery was being organised, new burial registers were compiled to record what could still be recovered of earlier interments. Unfortunately, many burials had already been lost to memory, and others were recorded only in the most basic terms, often without correct names, dates, or family details.
Today, we rely on the burial registers compiled by Mrs Valmai Ockleston (1909–2001). Valmai herself rests in the graveyard, alongside many members of the early Ockleston family.
One of the Society’s core missions is to honour the historic significance of the cemetery and the settler families buried here by ensuring that, wherever possible, descendants are given pre‑emptive burial rights.
A walk through the graveyard reveals Hobsonville’s deep connection to the brick and pottery industry. Many monuments commemorate significant ceramic manufacturers - including Clark, Carder, and Vazey - as well as other notable Hobsonville potters such as Cater, Holland, and Ockleston.
Survey Work
Over the years, we have identified a number of graves where the identities of those buried are unknown, as well as individuals we know to be interred in the cemetery but without any record of their exact resting place.
In April 2024, expert archaeologist Dr Hans Dieter Bader of Archaeology Solutions Ltd surveyed part of the graveyard using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). His work revealed nine previously unknown grave plots, including a couple likely to be children. These graves have now been respectfully marked with plaques.
On 1 February 2026, Dr Bader carried out a further survey on the Scott Road side of the graveyard, where two additional graves were discovered beneath the temporary pathway.
On 22 March 2026 Dr Bader discovered a further nine previously unknown burial plots today at the rear of the church building, using geo-magnetic surveying, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR).This brings the total number of unknown grave plots discovered to 20, with more of the graveyard still to be scanned using ground‑penetrating radar (GPR).These newly identified graves today align with one recently found along the temporary pathway.While it was surprising to uncover so many graves in such a small area, it has long been suspected that the graveyard was in use well before formal records were kept and before the church itself was built.The original graveyard boundary extended into what is now the middle of Scott Road, so it is perhaps not unexpected to find graves where they are today.
Approximately half of the graveyard still remains to be surveyed, and it is likely that further unmarked graves will be identified as this work continues.
In April 2024, expert archaeologist Dr Hans Dieter Bader of Archaeology Solutions Ltd surveyed part of the graveyard using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). His work revealed nine previously unknown grave plots, including a couple likely to be children. These graves have now been respectfully marked with plaques.
On 1 February 2026, Dr Bader carried out a further survey on the Scott Road side of the graveyard, where two additional graves were discovered beneath the temporary pathway.
On 22 March 2026 Dr Bader discovered a further nine previously unknown burial plots today at the rear of the church building, using geo-magnetic surveying, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR).This brings the total number of unknown grave plots discovered to 20, with more of the graveyard still to be scanned using ground‑penetrating radar (GPR).These newly identified graves today align with one recently found along the temporary pathway.While it was surprising to uncover so many graves in such a small area, it has long been suspected that the graveyard was in use well before formal records were kept and before the church itself was built.The original graveyard boundary extended into what is now the middle of Scott Road, so it is perhaps not unexpected to find graves where they are today.
Approximately half of the graveyard still remains to be surveyed, and it is likely that further unmarked graves will be identified as this work continues.
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Family Tree Circles Geneaology list of people buried in graveyard links below.The list not up to date but is very informative with interesting family history included. Note the Family Tree Circles internet page for Hobsonville Cemetery has been hacked, and you can't currently access the pages. Use the pdf links below to access the Family Tree Circles Geneaology information for the Hobsonville Settlers Church graveyard. Andersen - Dunlop link hereEllice - North link hereOckleston - Yates link here