Timber Chapel

Legend or myth? It is said that small timber chapel was built over the grave of Tasmania's first governor, Lt. Col. David Collins. In 1925 the burial ground was turned into a public park. The following is a quote from Historical Records of Australia:

A wooden church was erected on the site, and the grave lay under the altar. This church was

blown down in a hurricane, and for several years the grave was

exposed, until Sir John Franklin, then lieutenant-governor, caused

the existing monument to be erected in the year 1838.

The actual location of Governor Collins grave is not known because the team removing the headstones that discovered the tomb, forgot to mark the site. However today a memorial tomb exists in the park marking Collins' burial in the cemetery.

Early records state that Hobart's first recorded service was held in open air on the parade ground in 1804. The first church was a rough wooden structure situated where St David's burial ground is. This building was blown down after only two years.