Sydney Metro construction unearths 160-year-old grave of Joseph Thompson Photo: Headstones in the Devonshire Street cemetery in Sydney prior to its demolition. (Supplied: State Library of NSW) The search is on for the descendants of a man whose remains were found at one of Australia's oldest cemeteries, on the site of Sydney's Central Station, 160 years after he died. Key points:Records show Joseph Thompson lived to the age of 80, and was an elder of the Pitt Street congregational church when he diedArchaeologists found his remains at the site where Devonshire Street Cemetery was located at Central Railway StationThey say the find is unique and gives insight into the nature of the graves The Devonshire Street Cemetery has long been buried as the Harbour City exploded around, and on top of it. However, the remains of Joseph Thompson, who lived to the age of 80, were discovered by archaeologists during construction works for the new Sydney Metro. Excavation director Dr Iain Stuart described the find, which included a nameplate, as unique and intriguing. "We've not been able to identify who the vaults belong to... so it was really unusual to come down onto a grave that actually had a nameplate that we could tie-in to a particular individual and their family," he said. "It also raises some questions too because the historical record suggested that Mr Thompson was actually exhumed." Photo: Joseph Thompson's headstone. (Supplied: State Library of NSW) Around 62 grave "cuts" have been found so far along with five burial vaults, but not all contain human remains, Dr Stuart said. The Devonshire Street Cemetery was consecrated in 1820 and served Sydney until the 1860s. It was resumed in 1901 to make way for Central Station. Several notable people were buried there including first-fleeter James Squire, who rose to fame as a prominent brewer and whose name still adorns beer bottles today. Relatives were given a few months to apply for their loved ones' remains to be moved. About 30,000 remains that were unclaimed were removed by tram to Bunnerong Cemetery. Who was Joseph Thompson? Records show Joseph Thompson was a venerated elder of the congregational church at Pitt Street in Sydney when he died. A native of Northamptonshire, he arrived in Sydney in 1855 aboard the ship James Harris, with his wife Mary and five children aged 13 to 21 years old. They paid their own way — suggesting Mr Thompson, who was a draper, had some means. He went on to have 14 children, making it likely that many of his descendants could still be found and consulted over where his remains should be re-interred. Photo: The cemetery was notoriously overcrowded with a large number of graves in a small area. (Supplied: State Library of NSW) Archaeologists are pondering why Joseph's grave is orientated north-south, where others are orientated east-west, Dr Stuart said. "We have this interesting question of why one side of the cemetery is looking one way and the ot
Sydney Metro construction unearths 160-year-old grave of Joseph Thompson Photo: Headstones in the Devonshire Street cemetery in Sydney prior to its demolition. (Supplied: State Library of NSW) The search is on for the descendants of a man whose remains were found at one of Australia's oldest cemeteries, on the site of Sydney's Central Station, 160 years after he died. Key points:Records show Joseph Thompson lived to the age of 80, and was an elder of the Pitt Street congregational church when he diedArchaeologists found his remains at the site where Devonshire Street Cemetery was located at Central Railway StationThey say the find is unique and gives insight into the nature of the graves The Devonshire Street Cemetery has long been buried as the Harbour City exploded around, and on top of it. However, the remains of Joseph Thompson, who lived to the age of 80, were discovered by archaeologists during construction works for the new Sydney Metro. Excavation director Dr Iain Stuart described the find, which included a nameplate, as unique and intriguing. "We've not been able to identify who the vaults belong to... so it was really unusual to come down onto a grave that actually had a nameplate that we could tie-in to a particular individual and their family," he said. "It also raises some questions too because the historical record suggested that Mr Thompson was actually exhumed." Photo: Joseph Thompson's headstone. (Supplied: State Library of NSW) Around 62 grave "cuts" have been found so far along with five burial vaults, but not all contain human remains, Dr Stuart said. The Devonshire Street Cemetery was consecrated in 1820 and served Sydney until the 1860s. It was resumed in 1901 to make way for Central Station. Several notable people were buried there including first-fleeter James Squire, who rose to fame as a prominent brewer and whose name still adorns beer bottles today. Relatives were given a few months to apply for their loved ones' remains to be moved. About 30,000 remains that were unclaimed were removed by tram to Bunnerong Cemetery. Who was Joseph Thompson? Records show Joseph Thompson was a venerated elder of the congregational church at Pitt Street in Sydney when he died. A native of Northamptonshire, he arrived in Sydney in 1855 aboard the ship James Harris, with his wife Mary and five children aged 13 to 21 years old. They paid their own way — suggesting Mr Thompson, who was a draper, had some means. He went on to have 14 children, making it likely that many of his descendants could still be found and consulted over where his remains should be re-interred. Photo: The cemetery was notoriously overcrowded with a large number of graves in a small area. (Supplied: State Library of NSW) Archaeologists are pondering why Joseph's grave is orientated north-south, where others are orientated east-west, Dr Stuart said. "We have this interesting question of why one side of the cemetery is looking one way and the ot
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