Greta General Cemetery

Greta was originally known as Anvil Creek and is situated on the New England Highway between Maitland and Singleton. The Greta General Cemetery has graves associated with different immigration waves from a variety of countries over a period of time. By the mid-1800s German immigrants had begun to develop vineyards in the area. Coal mining began during in the 1860s and many miners moved to the area in search of work. The Greta Army Camp was established in 1939 and at the end of WWII this camp became one of the largest immigration camps in Australia. Immigrants arrived from countries including Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Italy and Greece and remained in the area until they were able to establish a life for themselves.

Historian Jack Delaney surveyed the cemetery in 1984 and recorded the existing headstones. He also used information from the records of the Court of Petty Sessions which identified 566 ‘unlocated’ burials where no headstone was thought to exist. John gave permission to use his work in this publication and Cessnock City Council assisted with maps and plans.

The Greta War Cemetery situated at the corner of Evans and Hunter Streets has also been added to this publication.