AROUND 40 descendants of workers from "Coombing Park" took part in a service for the consecrating and hallowing of a new memorial garden and cemetery last Thursday.
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The service was conducted by Anglican Bishop Richard Hurford, Reverend Anastasia Webster-Hawes and Rev Peter King.
The memorial garden was created using large granite stones from the property, with bronze memorial plaques attached to them.
The honourable Thomas Icely,who was born in 1797 and founded Coombing in 1826, is represented first in the line.
He sold the property to Cobb & Co in 1880, with WF Whitney becoming a one third shareholder. Twenty-one Whitney descendants are represented in the memorial garden.
Workmen and women honoured include Joe Rawson (1880), Arthur Quince (1882) Roy 'Curley' Smith (1904), Bob Wilkins (1932), Kate McDonald (1880), Harold Ferson (1882) and Harry and Dorrie Rowe.
Harry Fearnley, who was manager on the property for 48 years, was also honoured as well as Charlie Williams and Kevin Harris, who both worked on the property for 38 years.
Many of these workers still have family in the district.
There is also a plaque for unnamed convicts buried on the property from 1826-1836.
