The grave of Catherine Glen Rinder can be found along Wilson Street in Wedderburn, Victoria.
This was an early burial site which was never gazetted. Although there is evidence of other burials, Catherine's grave is the only immediately visible grave at this site.
The grave is not easily seen from the road, so keep an eye out for the small information sign which stands right beside the road. The grave is located further off the road and slightly to the right of this sign.
Catherine's headstone reads:
Sacred to
the Memory of
CATHARINE GLEN
the beloved wife of
SAM RINDER
of Wedderburne
who died FEBY 8th 1859
aged 18 years
The
Victorian Heritage Database provides the following text regarding this burial site:
An ungazetted burial site with at least one extant monument and evidence of other early burials. The site is important locally as it contributes to the historical record of the Wedderburn community prior to the 1860s.
An information sign alongside Wilson Street displays the following text:
Catherine Glen Rinder Grave
Catherine Rinder, daughter of James and Catherine McNab died aged 18 years, on February 8th 1859 from a lung ailment.
Her husband, Sam Rinder, was the foundation Secretary of the Shire of Korong who as an adventurous lad aged 12, walked to Liverpool on the West Coast of the U.K., from near the Yorkshire city of Leeds near the East Coast and boarded a sailing ship going to New York, the Captain of which engaged him as cabin boy.
Sam left the ship and found his way to California where gold fever was prevalent and he found work for 2 years before sailing home to England to visit his parents and soon after went to sea again on a ship sailing to Australia.
He disembarked in Melbourne and found work with western district settlers for 2 years before moving to Hobart to live with his uncle for several years then revisited his parents in England.
The gold fever in Victoria enticed him to come back and he eventually came to Wedderburn at the time when the Government had gazetted Inglewood as a Roads Board and Sam Rinder was elected as the foundation Chairman.
Kingower and Wedderburn were ancillary portions until the Wedderburn Diggings was transformed into the Shire of Korong and Sam Rinder left his Kingower home and took up residence in Wedderburn.
He built a store and a house next door and when the new Shire Council sought a "home", Sam leased the shop to the Council for 80 pounds per annum, with conditions that a Council Chamber and staff offices were provided.
The date of his marriage to Catherine is unknown. His age was 36 when his 18 year old wife died.
Sam remarried and had 4 children, 2 of whom died in infancy, a daughter died aged 28 predeceasing him by 10 years and his second wife, Mary predeceasing him by 3 years.
When Sam died aged 84 he was survived by his son Dr A W Rinder.
Please note-: The History of the Wedderburn Goldfields by C.R. Goodeon page 14 quotes, "Among others to find gold was Miss Katie McNab. She was a favourite with all the people on the field; she was about 14 years old at the time and was the only young lady of that age in the district. She was the daughter of our respected townswoman, Mrs. Cahill" Catherine Rinder was the same age as Katie McNab.
ACCOMMODATION NEARBY
Inglewood Motel and Caravan Park
Inglewood Motel and Caravan Park is a 10 acre bush park privately owned and managed by Jerry and Pauline Wellman in the gorgeous gold-rush town of Inglewood, Victoria. The park is within walking distance to cafes, shops and hotel entertainment, and is surrounded by State Forests. Inglewood Motel and Caravan Park is a popular destination for tourists and is located within the renowned Golden Triangle - a region of the Victorian Goldfields which is world famous for the size, purity, and quantity of gold nuggets found in the area.
SEE ALSO
BBQ
Wedderburn
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