Challenge of Dromana Cemetery

Dromana Cemetery is not far from my home on the Mornington Peninsula.
You may notice that no particular grave here has featured in any of my Taphophile Tragics posts.
(You have seen the view!)
There is a reason.

The cemetery is on a mountain, a steep mountain known as Arthurs Seat, with panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay.
The mountain is steep, so the walkways are steep and very slippery when wet with rain or mountain or sea mist.
And that is often the case.

Several times I have been here and attempted to face my fear of heights.
But still I stay on the "flat" middle entrance driveway, looking either up the steps or down.

  So I console myself with a few zoomed views of nearby graves.
 This crumbling grave is right at the entrance gate of the cemetery.

William Henderson was a civil engineer from Glasgow, specialising in designing waterworks.
It was in that capacity he emigrated and became well known in Victoria for his skills.
Excerpt from ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers)

Mr. Henderson’s  connection  with  the Colony of  Victoria  commenced  in the year 1886,  when  he  was  engaged  in  making

reports  and estimates for irrigation projects under the instructions

of  the  Royal  Commission  on  Water-Supply.  He  was  then

appointed  executive  engineer  to  the  Victorian  Water-Supply

Department,  in  which  capacity  he designed and  superintended  the

construction  of  national  irrigation  works  in  the   district   of

Goulburn.  He  was  also  engaged in preparing  a  report  and

estimates for  a  supply of  water for  domestic  and  stock purposes

over about 17,000 square miles in  the Mallee District.  He  retired

from  the   service  of  the  Victorian  Water-Supply  Department  in

1895, and  started  to  practise  on  his  own  account  as  a  hydraulic

engineer. 

Shortly afterwards, he was struck down with paralysis and died at the age of 44 in his brother's home near Dromana.
What I wonder is, where was his private practice? Dromana?
The Mallee district, where James mainly worked, is in the far north of Victoria.
Dromana is in the far south.
Was James Henderson's brother the only connection with Dromana?
Strange to find such a large memorial to a public figure who may not have lived in the area.

NOTE #1: The M.I.C.E. on the grave = Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers
#2 I believe that there is another "secret" entrance to the lower end of the cemetery from the now defunct Arthurs Seat chairlift.
More exploring to be done!

Hillside resting place
Where the spirit may fly free
With views to dream on

 
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