Memorial, Beechworth Cemetery

Memorial, Beechworth Cemetery

Right Column:

Transcription: 光緒九年二月吉日置立

Translation: "Established/Erected on an Auspicious Day in the 2nd Month of the 9th Year of Guangxu."

Western Date: This corresponds to the period around March 1883.

Center Column:

Transcription: 中華國各首列位大伯公墳墓

Translation: "The Tomb (墳墓) of Dà Bó Gōng (Great Elder Gentleman) of the Chinese Nation (中華國)."

大伯公 (Dà Bó Gōng): Many early diaspora communities built a communal grave, cenotaph, or shrine called 大伯公墓 to:

protect the cemetery

honour wandering or unidentified spirits

act as a local guardian for migrants

provide a communal site for ritual offerings

Left Column:

Transcription: 嶺南廣肇二府 X 里司敬

Translation: Reverently (dedicated) by the Office/Department (司) of the ? 里 (the character of this specific village/township is difficult to read) of the Second Prefecture of Guang-Zhao (廣肇) in Lingnan.

Guang-Zhao (廣肇) in Lingnan is a formal way of referring to the Pearl River Delta counties from where people originated.