McBean Cemetery formerly the original Mount Pleasant Public Cemetery

The McBean Cemetery was the former Mount Pleasant Public Cemetery and is located on Golfcourse Road, adjacent to the entrance of the Mount Pleasant Golf Club. A transfer of land from Joseph Thyer to the District Council of Talunga was gazetted in May 1861, realigning a Government road with a portion of Section 7003 Hundred of Talunga, for the purpose of creating a Cemetery. Ann Freeman, the local school teacher had died in February 1861, perhaps prompting the need. The land was designated as a cemetery in 1864, along with many other parcels of land, when the government realised a necessity to formalise these places. There are burials in this cemetery from an earlier date, and the parcel of land was returned to Crown Land in 1990. It was the first Public Cemetery for the district, but due to distance from the township, declined in usage, with the St John Anglican Cemetery coming into operation in 1863. There is no known connection to the McBean family, other than that they did own land in the vicinity at one time. There are very few headstones remaining, and it is no longer under the care of the District Council. 

South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), Tuesday 26 February 1861, page 2

FREEMAN.—On February 21, at Mount Pleasant, Miss Anne Freeman, aged 26.

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Friday 19 July 1861, page 3

ANGASTON.

From our own Correspondent

Angaston, July 17.

... On Sunday afternoon an inquest was held before Mr. George French Angas, J.P., at Mr. Phillis's (one of Mr. Angas's dairy stations), in Flaxman's Valley, on the body of one of Mr. Phillis's children, a boy of about four years of age, who had died suddenly on Thursday night. It appeared from the evidence that the child was put to bed on Thursday evening, seeming much as usual, but about 20 minutes past 10 his mother going in to look at him found him dead. Dr. Dickenson, after making a post mortem examination, stated that the cause of death was an accumulation of matter about the heart and lungs, which had impeded the action of the former. The verdict returned was 'Died from natural causes.' 

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)Thursday 26 March 1863 - Page 7 

PURCHASE.—On the 14th March, at MountPleasant, John, only son of Walter and Alice Purchase, aged nine years.

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 7 March 1868, page 3

MOUNT PLEASANT, March 4.

An inquest was held this afternoon at Mr. W. Phillis's on the body of a man named William Fisher, of near Eden Valley, before Mr. J. Bennett, J.P. A Jury of 12 having been sworn in, Mr. Gottschalk was elected Foreman. Miss C. Phillis, sworn, stated— Went to bed about half-past 10. Heard a man and horse coming down the road at a very quick rate. Then heard him fall off. Opened the door, went out, and saw a man lying on the ground with his horse standing over him. Called my father, who was in bed. We then went down to him and felt him. He did not speak, and smelt strongly of liquor. Would not say of what description. Brought some water and bathed his head, when he seemed to revive a little. Called up the men, who carried him to the stable. Mr. Wm. Phillis stated— Last night, about half past 10 o'clock, heard a horse coming down the road very quickly. A few minutes after my daughter called me up, telling me a man had fallen off his horse. Got up directly, went out, and saw him lying in the road. He was quite insensible. With the assistance of others carried him into the stable. Felt him, and found he had no bones broken. A small quantity of blood was coming from his nose. Left him in the stable. At about a quarter to 5 this morning looked into the stable to see whether he had left. Felt him and found him dead. Woke up the men, saddled a horse, and went for Dr. Ferguson. Do not know the man. Considered the man intoxicated at the time, and therefore did not think it necessary to send for the doctor. Expected to find him gone this morning. Robert Martin said— I have seen the body, and identify it as that of William Fisher, jun. Last saw the deceased on Thursday or Friday evening, when he was leaving my house. H. Ferguson— I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. Was called between 6 and 7 o'clock this morning by Mr. W. Phillis. Came as soon as possible, accompanied by Police-trooper Daket. On arriving here found the deceased lying in the shed near the house. Was quite dead. Had been dead some hours. Upon making an examination of the body, found the rigor mortis well marked. Blood was issuing from the nose. On the right side of the head I discovered a contused wound. It was much swollen. Consider the cause of death to have been fracture of the skull, with extravasation of blood. The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of accidental death, resulting from furious riding.

Editor's note - the Police-trooper  Daket would be Police-troop Deckert - Julius Friedrich Deckert was the first Police-trooper at Mount Pleasant.

South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1868 - 1881), Saturday 14 March 1868, page 2

MOUNT PLEASANT, March 11

I am sorry to record another sad and fatal accident that happened last week to Wm. Fisher. It seems a remarkable coincidence that is attached to Fisher's death. He was, from report, walking through Springton, on his way down here, and seeing a horse standing outside the Springton Hotel he, without permission from the owner, mounted and galloped down the road at a furious rate, and when near W. Phillis's the horse either stumbled or he fell off, but, sad to relate, he was picked up by Mr. P., who thinking he was only suffering from the effects of drink, laid him in the barn, and next morning on going to see whether he had got up and left he was horror-struck to find him dead. An inquest was held by Mr. Bennett, but not being present when it was finished, I have not heard the verdict. What is also very strange, it seems the horse that Fisher took belonged to Mr. Lyddon, who died last week from the effects of an accident nearly at the same place. 

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931)Wednesday 19 August 1903 - Page 4 

DOWLING.—On the 17th August, at Tanunda Creek, near Eden Valley, Jane, the beloved wife of Edwin Dowling, aged 71, of paralysis.

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954), Thursday 2 April 1936, page 1

AGED SPRINGTON MAN BURNED TO DEATH

Trapped In Shed

TRAPPED in a burning shed in which he had been living at Springton, John Buder, aged 80, an old age pensioner, was burnt to death on Saturday evening. When the fire was first noticed, at 6.45 p.m., Messrs. B. H. Graetz and R. Wilson, knowing of Buder's presence in the shed, rushed to the scene and succeeded in dragging the body from the blazing building.

He was not extensively burnt about the body, although his hair and beard had been destroyed, and it is thought that the shock hastened his death, as he was dead on the arrival of the rescuers. M.C. Jones of, Mount Pleasant, was called to the scene immediately.

Buder was found lying huddled in the corner with a primus stove alight on the floor. It is believed that when lighting the stove the old man spilt some methylated spirits on his hands, and that when lighting his pipe a few minutes later the fumes ignited and set fire to his long white heard.

The fire attracted a large crowd, who were able to get the flames under control after extensive damage had been done to the shed, which was 50 ft. long and contained a large quantity of timber. The building and timber, which were not insured, represented a loss of about £200.

Buder's funeral took place at the cemetery near Springton on Sunday, the Rev. J. E. Lloyd officiating at the graveside. Buder was a well-known figure in both Springton and Mount Pleasant. Increasing years, however, caused his visits to the latter town to be considerably less than formerly. He was remembered by several local residents for his skill with horses and his association with stock sales.