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O'Neill's Point Cemetery is a historic cemetery and reserve located in Bayswater, New Zealand. It is a 3.4 hectare tract of land that extends from Bayswater Ave, down to the shore of Shoal Bay. Across from it is Bayswater Park. There is a walking and cycling track that runs beside the cemetery that connects Bayswater to Takapuna and Devonport to the north and south respectively.

Built in 1891, O'Neill's acted as a second-generation cemetery to the Mount Victoria Cemetery in Devonport after this site raised health and safety concern for its proximity to the local residences. The cemetery is listed on the Heritage New Zealand List as a category 1 heritage site. It is particularly significant as it contains the final resting place of many prominent early New Zealanders as well as WWI veterans of Pacific and Māori background who were trained at Narrowneck Camp.

History

• the site where the cemetery now lies was given to the Devonport Borough council by James Frederick O'Neill
• James' father, Allan O'Neill had bought the entire peninsula in ?? from Robert Hunt, which is where the peninsula got its name
• The need for a new cemetery came when the Mount Victoria Cemetery raised health concerns from residents in the now bustling Devonport area. At this time, Bayswater was empty and so was a perfect place just outside of the Devonport area to set up a cemetery.
• The cemetery's layout was designed by John Francis Boylan, who was ??
• First constructed was the section on the eastern side of the existing cemetery.
• The plots formed a rectilinear grid that allowed for people to walk easily amongst the graves.
• These plots were divided into Anglican, Catholic and Unsectarian sections.
• Boylan also lined the cemetery with native trees...
• The cemetery was open for burials on ??
• In 1895, more grave plots were added (where) and in 1897, a mortuary chapel was constructed, which has since been (destroyed/removed??).
• It was made in the Gothic Revival style by Edward Bartley, a renowned Auckland architect at the time.
• More plots were added in 1903...
• In 1910, a wharf was built at the end of the Bayswater peninsula with regular steam ferry services to Auckland city. A tram service connected this ferry terminal to Takapuna.
• Because of increased access to the peninsula and an increase of people living in Auckland after the first world war, the Bayswater peninsula began to grow in popularity as a residential area.

Notable burials

• Thomas (1803-1892) and Mary (1812-1891) Poynton: Key figures in the growth of Catholicism in New Zealand. Celebrated the first Catholic mass in New Zealand in their home in Hokianga.
• John Palmer (): Archdeacon of South Melanesia

Military Deaths

• Private Vilipate (1893-1915): First Pacific Islander military death. Vilipate was from Niue and died of pneumonia after he arrived in New Zealand
• Sergeant Beni Banaba (??): Came from an important chiefly family in Manihiri in the Cook Islands. Served in Egypt and Palestine between 1916 - 1917

1918 Flu Epidemic Deaths

• Private Mannao (Manuao) (1880-1918): From Tuvalu.
• Private Tonuia (1891-1918): From Tuvalu.
• Private Laliqapta Illitomasi (1891-1918): From Fiji.
• Te Hapa Ihia (c. 1893-1919): Māori
• Tame Tahi (d.1918): Māori
• Kiri Toto (c.1895-1918): Māori
• Rupena Hihi (c.1891-1918): Māori

• Isabelle Maude (Maud) (1870-1918): Volunteered to look after the Māori and Pacifika troops who caught the flu. Died of the flu herself.

Gravestones