Freshwater Creek Cemetery

The first German Lutherans settled in the district around Grovedale (Germantown) in the early 1850s establishing vineyards and market gardens. By the late 1850s, they had spread to establish the Freshwater Creek settlement.

Initially, church services were held in the homes of members until the first church, a wattle and daub structure, was built in 1859. It was known as the Waldkirch – “the church in the forest”. The first burial took place in 1860 when Louisa the 18-year-old daughter of the Seiffert family died of pneumonia.

The present bluestone church, designed by architect Robert Tuffs, was commenced in 1866 by church members with stone believed to have been quarried from the Seiffert property along Thompson’s Creek. Many of the families contributed financially to the building of the church. The church and cemetery were part of the social and cultural life of the congregation as well as their place of worship and burial place.

The Cemetery was the final resting-place of most of the pioneer families of Freshwater Creek. They include Johann Seiffert, Johann Schmidt, Johann Einsporn, Johann Leibhardt and Karl Rau.

St David’s Lutheran Church and Cemetery is a historic church which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register along with the cemetery and classified by the National Trust of Australia.