The South East Family History Group and Wattle Range Council are unveiling a plaque to mark the area of Millicent’s first cemetery at 2pm on December 21.

It is located behind the Sheoak Lodge nursing home on Towers Road.

Although no burial records exist, it is understood the cemetery was in use between February 1873 and September 1877.

The area is believed to be the final resting place of numerous people as sources state that 26 adults and 34 children died in Millicent in this period.

Stone monuments commemorating the nearby Geltwood shipwreck of 1877 off modern-day Canunda were placed in this area several decades ago.

The graves of three unknown Geltwood sailors and passenger James Nelson are buried there and are marked by the tombstones.

Mr Nelson was identified by his signet ring and his family in England paid for the memorial.