Description
The Historic Rodd Mausoleum is a free, 19th-century sandstone tomb in Rodd Park, Rodd Point, built for pioneer settler Brent Clements Rodd (1809–1898) and his family. It’s open to view at any time, at no cost.
Rodd was born in Barnstaple, England, and named his Sydney estate after his hometown, the source of several street names in the area today. He and his wife raised 12 children on the property, and the mausoleum was built to hold the family’s remains. Convict labour carved the tomb from a single block of sandstone, topped with a large stone cross.
In 1903, ten members of the Rodd family were exhumed and reinterred at Rookwood Cemetery, leaving the mausoleum as an empty but intact heritage monument. It fell into disrepair over the following decades before the Rotary Club of Five Dock restored the site in the 1970s.
The mausoleum stands in Rodd Park at Rodd Point, on the shore of Iron Cove, next to the Dobroyd Aquatic Club. Rodd Point borders Haberfield in the City of Canada Bay, about 9 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD.
Key Highlights & Features
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Built for pioneer settler Brent Clements Rodd (1809–1898); convict labour carved the tomb from a single block of sandstone in the 19th century.
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Free to visit year-round: the mausoleum sits in open parkland with no entry fee or set hours.
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Ten Rodd family members were reinterred at Rookwood Cemetery in 1903, leaving the tomb as a heritage monument rather than an active grave site.
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Restored in the 1970s by the Rotary Club of Five Dock after decades of disrepair.
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Located in Rodd Park on Iron Cove, beside the Dobroyd Aquatic Club, a short stop along the Bay Run walking track.
Attractions Near Historic Rodd Mausoleum
- Rodd Island – 10 minutes walking distance
- Iron Cove – 5 minutes walking distance
- Rodd Point Park – 2 minutes walking distance
- Bay Run – 15 minutes walking distance
- Callan Park – 20 minutes walking distance
Places to Stay Near Historic Rodd Mausoleum
Other Things to Do
FAQ
What are the opening hours of the Historic Rodd Mausoleum?
The mausoleum is open to view at any time, at no charge; it stands in open parkland with no gates or set hours. Built in the 19th century as the burial vault of pioneer settler Brent Clements Rodd (1809–1898) and his family, it was left as a heritage monument after the remains were moved to Rookwood Cemetery in 1903. The Rotary Club of Five Dock restored the site in the 1970s.
How do you get to the Historic Rodd Mausoleum?
The mausoleum is in Rodd Park at Rodd Point, on the shore of Iron Cove, beside the Dobroyd Aquatic Club, about 9 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD in the City of Canada Bay, bordering Haberfield. It’s most easily reached by car or by bus to the Lyons Road area.
Is there an admission fee for the Historic Rodd Mausoleum?
No. The Rodd Mausoleum is a free heritage monument in a public park, with no admission fee or bookings required.