President Freda Backes and a number of other members of your Board have visited Cootamundra over the last few months to organise the conservation of the group of historically important graves at Cootamundra. Cootamundra Project Progress
The Society received a grant from the Australian Government to undertake the work.
This group of graves at the cemetery form a distinct group of people of Lebanese descent. The group includes the grave of Thomas McGuire whose 1896 grave is the oldest known surviving Lebanese grave we have so far located. Another grave is that of Salim Matha who was murdered while hawking at Bumbaldry near Cowra. Other graves belong to those who have had long association with the business community in Cootamundra. The group represent a microcosm of the history of pioneer Lebanese settlement in rural Australia. 
We have tried to involve as many people as possible in the process, including locating descendants of those buried in the graves. We have had discussions with representatives of Cootamundra Shire Council and met with the Mayor and General Manager. We have met with the Cootamundra Local History Society and outlined the project to them.
So far a lot of preliminary planning has been undertaken including developing detailed report for the conservation and cleaning of the graves by a professional heritage adviser and then developing these further with a local monumental mason. A Cootamundra firm of landscape architects have presented a plan for the conservation of the site once the monumental mason has completed his work. Some preliminary work has been carried on the site by staff of Cootamundra Shire Council, including removal of large dying tree threatening to damage the site.
We have also undertaken a lot of historical research into those who are buried in the group of graves as well as those buried elsewhere in the cemetery and the role of the Lebanese in the surrounding district in order to provide a context for the project. This builds on work already done by family historians and the Society.
Over the next month or so the project aims to have the graves repaired and cleaned in line with the principles of the Burra Charter. The area around the site will be stabilised and include interpretative signage. The graves remind us of the contribution early Lebanese settlers, like those and their families interred at Cootamundra, made to this country.
Affiliations: The Society is affiliated with the Royal Australian Historical Society, Royal Historical Society of Qld., History Council of NSW, Oral History Association of Australia (NSW Branch) & the Society of Australian Genealogists.
Membership: is open to those of Lebanese descent, their families or anyone interested in the history of Lebanese settlement in Australia. Entrance Fee - $25, Annual subscription - $25 ($50 for first year). A Membership Application can be printed out here.Newsletter: The Society posts a quarterly Newsletter to members. News, history and items of interest to members can be posted or emailed and will be considered for publication.
Feedback: The Society is always in interested in the views of those with an interest in the history of the Lebanese in Australia. Is there an aspect of the history that should be highlighted? Is there a contribution you would like to make? We'd love to hear from you.
Online Exhibition of historic photographs sponsored by State Records NSW.
Read a range of full-text history articles for an overview of the history of Lebanese settlement in Australia.
The Society aims to encourage scholarship in the history of Lebanese settlement in Australia by research, publications and regular events and meetings for members. See the Objectives section of the Constitution for more details.