BERKELEY Pioneer Cemetery contains the graves of some of the Illawarra's earliest European settlers.
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They include Robert Jenkins, one of the first five land grantees in the Illawarra in December 1816, and other Jenkins relatives, including son William Warren Jenkins, who built Berkeley House.
The cemetery, at 11 Investigator Drive, Unanderra, was established in 1862 by the Jenkins family but the earliest interment dates back to 1822.
It is now surrounded by industrial businesses, but is lovingly cared for by the Berkeley Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Group.
Anyone keen to find out more about Berkeley and Unanderra's past can take part in the group's heritage walking tour of the cemetery on May 3.
The tour, part of the National Trust Heritage Festival (April 12-May 26), will run from 1pm-3.30pm. The day's event will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at 1pm to mark the Centenary of the Anzacs.
For a gold coin donation, residents can join in and hear from siblings Ray Condon and Bernadette Hannaford, who grew up on the 180-acre Condon family farm, which included the cemetery within its boundaries.
They will talk about local dairy farming and fishing families and other features of the area, including the Waters store and Unanderra cattleyards.
Susie Gapps, a descendant of Frederick Jenkins, (William Warren Jenkins' son), will also talk about the Jenkins, who built the historic Nudjia Homestead at 83a Cummins Street, Unanderra, in the 1880s.
The restoration group will also hold tours of the museum (original pioneer brick kitchen) behind Nudjia Homestead on May 3 from 9.30am-12.30pm. Entry by gold coin donation.
Mrs Hannaford, one of five children living on the Condon farm, said growing up they would see all the funerals happening at the cemetery.
"I think it's very important to remember the history."
Cemetery tour bookings: 4271 1996
Nudjia tour bookings: 0438 174 574