Moffatt Vault

Historical Background

The Moffatt vault was erected in 1866 and was considered "the most tasteful sepulchral ornament ever seen in Ipswich".  It was made by William Cook of West Ipswich.

A classical sandstone vault with marble table for Thomas de Lacy Moffatt, a second marble tablet states that Thomas Bell is also buried there, and a third tablet is for two of the sons of Thomas, Gerald and Thomas jnr. who died exactly one month apart in 1894. Beside it is a decorated marble obelisk for Thomas Bell made by a Brisbane mason Prentice. The inscription panel is decorated with ivy leaves and it is topped with a draped urn. The inscription states that it was erected by his sons. An inscription added on the base notes that this is also a memorial for their sister Mary Isabella, widow of Thomas de Lacy Moffatt, who died in Paris in 1866. Both are enclosed in an iron fence and sit on a bed of gravel.

Thomas de Lacy Moffatt, Colonial Treasurer of Queensland, died in 1864 age 38.

In 1860 Thomas was elected for Eastern Downs in Queensland's first Legislative Assembly and in 1862 he became the colonial treasurer. Two sons of Thomas de Lacy Moffatt are also buried here. Gerald died in June 1891 at the age of only 32. He was a partner of John Johnson in ownership of Waterston Colliery.

Thomas de Lacy Moffatt jnr. was clerk of petty sessions at Warwick when he died. He led a fascinating life. He was educated in Germany, went on several voyages then lived in Western Queensland for a time. In 1880, when Sir Joshua Peter Bell was administrator of Queensland at Government House, Thomas acted as his Aide-de-camp. In 1882, he joined the Life Guards and fought in Egypt, joining the Camel Corp and fighting in a number of battles. He returned to Queensland and was appointed as Clerk of Petty Sessions. One newspaper article about his death mentioned that he was to be interred “in the family vault”.

Thomas Bell died at Waterstown Ipswich (near Tivoli) in 1872. Born in Ireland, he came to Australia and took over the lease of Jimbour Station but remained in Sydney and installed a manager until his son (Sir) Joshua Peter Bell was old enough to manage it. He moved to Queensland in 1853 after the death of his wife and remained active in business affairs. He arrived in Ipswich in his buggy early every morning so regularly that he was known affectionately as “the town clock”.

Work on the Moffatt Vault

In February 2021, the entry stone to the Moffatt Crypt was located within the cemetery. It is likely that the stone was moved during the maintenance clean-up of the cemetery in 1978-79. The entry stone was relocated to the vault later that year (2021) and mounted upon a stand on the eastern side of the vault where it is believed that the entry stairs are located.

At the time of relocating the vault marker stone it was identified that repairs were required to the sandstone monument above the vault as many points of the monument had significant failures. Surround works to protect the underground structure were completed.

Family Members

Several family members are memorialized within the inscriptions upon the monuments above the Vault, however not all are buried within the Vault.  Inscribed are:

• Thomas De Lacy Moffatt
• Mary Isabella Moffatt (died in Paris) – Daughter of Thomas Bell, wife to Thomas De Lacy Moffatt
• Mary Isabella Moffatt (daughter of Thomas and Mary Moffatt)
• Elizabeth Frances Moffatt
• James Robert Moffatt
• Thomas De Lacy Moffatt Jnr
• Gerald Kellett Moffatt
• Thomas Bell, Father to Mary Isabella Moffatt
• John Alexander Bell
• Constance Agnes Bell
• Constance Scott Link Bell

The remains of eight members of the Moffatt and Bell families are mentioned as being buried in this vault.

• James Robert MOFFATT. Died 30/12/1863
• Thomas Delacy MOFFATT. Died 02/10/1864
• Thomas BELL. Died 05/09/1872
• Gerald Kellett MOFFATT. Died 20/06/1894
• Thomas Delacy MOFFATT (J). Died 18/07/1894
• Constance A. T. BELL. Died 24/08/1899
• Agnes BELL (Constance Scott Link) Died 10/10/1900
• John Alexander BELL. Died 31/08/1901