Rhodes final resting place
• Local residents L-R: Peter and Phyllis McLennan, Logan Krushka, Fran Williams, Bob Jessup, Rod Martin, Lesley Cox, Mayor Greg Howard, Gayle Edson, Nigel Mercer, Roger McLennan and Jeff Jennings at the unveiling of Robert Rhodes headstone.
May 3, 2023
By Dustin Hollick
After over a century of safekeeping at Bridport property Bowood, Robert Rhodes’ headstone has finally been returned to its original resting ground at Ellesmere Cemetery.
At the official unveiling on a moody Monday morning Dorset Historical Society president Nigel Mercer spoke of its journey.
“Through negotiations between the History Society, Bowood and Council it was agreed by all that it would be terrific to bring Robert Rhodes headstone back to this cemetery and put it where his body has been for the past 160 years,” Mr Mercer said.
Thomas Cox was the first settler of the Scottsdale area. In 1863 he donated one acre of land for religious purposes to the community.
Shortly after which Robert Rhodes became the first man to be buried at what is now known as the Ellesmere Cemetery.
Due to a small population in the early days of the cemetery’s inception burials were quite a rare occurrence.
After Mr Rhodes burial in 1863 there were only three more burials in the four years thereafter.
The Cox family took good care of the cemetery until their passing, after which the cemetery fell into a state of disrepair.
“After Thomas Cox died, they appointed trustees to run the cemetery, apparently it was never fenced, you can imagine the big old trees that were all around the Scottsdale district fell down occasionally crushing headstones and graves,” Mr Mercer explained.
“There are stories of terrible neglect where horses and cattle were running wild through the cemetery, you can imagine how a horse, or a cow can easily knock down headstones and cause all kinds of damage.”
It is understood that the Brewer family of Bowood decided that Mr Rhodes headstone was at risk.
At which one point the family relocated the headstone to their property. By records the original time the headstone spent in the cemetery was only 40 -50 years.
Dorset mayor Greg Howard said it was a fantastic achievement and great piece of history to be reinstated in the local area.
“It’s good to see the headstone is back here and it’s a job well done by Nigel Mercer, Peter and Phyllis Mclennan and everyone involved,” he concluded.