A headstone from the late 1800s has been returned to its original resting place at the Castlemaine Cemetery at Campbells Creek.
The link to our goldfields past was unearthed some years ago at a Castlemaine property whilst the owners were doing renovation works and has been now returned to its original home by the Wagstaff family.
Castlemaine’s Judy Wagstaff said the owners of the cottage had been doing renovations when they turned over their back step and were surprised to discover it was actually the headstone of ‘Kin Foay’.
The memorial had been erected in memory of Foay by Mary Ann Wagstaff.
Kin Foay late of Castlemaine had passed away on March 15, 1866 aged 41 years.
“The couple spoke to the lady next door about their discovery and she knew of the Wagstaff family.
Her daughter reached out to my late husband John to see if he wanted to come and have a look at it,” Judy said.
“John was researching the family history at the time and was thrilled to see it.
Negotiations were made for its purchase – two bottles of red wine! And it was then transported to our property in Muckleford where it was placed in our front garden,” Judy said.
The headstone remained a much talked about piece of garden art at the Wagstaff’s property for more than 10 years.
During that time John discovered the verse inscribed on the headstone was popular at the time and the Chinese inscription may offer some clue to Foay’s home of origin.
“After John passed away in February 2018, I decided to sell the Muckleford property so I had the headstone dug up and placed into storage until a suitable location could be found for it,” Judy said.
“After discussion with Castlemaine Cemetery Trust chair Debra Tranter it was agreed it would be returned to the cemetery and placed in the bushland section near other Wagstaff family members, including John who would be very happy to have it placed there,” she said.
“We have not been able to find out any information about Kin Foay despite quite a search by John.
He must have meant a lot to John’s great great aunt Mary Ann Wagstaff for her to have gone to so much expense to create a memorial of this size,” Judy said.
It is believed the headstone may have been one of several removed from the front section of the Castlemaine Cemetery in the 1960s to make way for a new lawn section, some of the stone was reportedly re-used across the township and some was moved up the back of the cemetery where some headstones were later recovered and have been placed on display along the entry road into the historic cemetery which was opened in 1852.
“We don’t know where Kin Foay was originally laid to rest, but it seems fitting that his headstone has been returned.
I will pick up where John left off and continue his research.
It’s certainly intriguing,” Judy said.