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30/12/1828 |
The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Sir George Murray, issued a
dispatch for Captain James Stirling and among other things, instructed
him to take care when planning towns so as to leave adequate space for
future requirements "for thoroughfares, and as the site of churches,
cemeteries and other public works of utility and general convenience."
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24/12/1829 |
The cemetery was first mentioned as early as 1829 in the records of
Colonial Secretary Peter Broun and the burial ground was surveyed by
John Septimus Roe on December 24, 1829 soon after the central portions
of the Perth townsite had been surveyed. At the time it was clearly
intended to be on the outskirts of the town and the first map of the
townsite of Perth, which was published in 1833, shows a burial ground
located on high ground on the eastern extremity of the ridge along
which the main city streets had been laid out.
(Both Broun and Roe were buried in the cemetery and their tombstones
are still visible today.)
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03/01/1830 |
The first burial recorded in the Colony was that of Private John
Mitchell but the earliest surviving headstone today appears to be that
of Louisa Jones who also died in 1830. However, way back in 1930, the
opinion was expressed that "it is too new in appearance to be over
100 years old. It has probably replaced an older tombstone."
Interestingly, in 1930, the earliest date on a surviving tombstone was
said to be September 20, 1830, on Joshua William Gregory's grave.
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13/02/1830 |
Lt.-Governor James Stirling issued directions that all burials in the
Colony had to take place in burial grounds specifically designated
for that purpose, in order to "prevent indiscriminate burials and
unpleasant consequences arising therefrom in a warm climate". All
burials were to take place as soon as possible after sunrise or an hour
before sunset and at no other time.
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15/06/1838 |
Lt.-Governor James Stirling appointed eight men (Wittenoom, Irwin, Brown
[Broun], Roe, Leake, Reveley, Moore & MacDermott) as trustees of Church
of England property, including burial grounds.
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26/04/1842 |
The burial ground on Perth Town Lot R1 was granted to the trustees of the Church of
England to be administered by them as a public cemetery.
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19/12/1843 |
The Church of England set down regulations for the layout and use of the
cemetery.
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12/08/1847 |
Legislation was enacted to deal specifically with cemeteries. Perth Town
Lot R1 was officially designated as a public cemetery.
(Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Fremantle, Guildford, Rockingham and York
were also proclaimed in the same statement.)
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07/11/1848 |
Governor Fitzgerald handed over building lots (T41 & T42) next to
the original cemetery for Roman Catholic burials.
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15/11/1848 |
Bishop Short from Adelaide consecrated St. George's Church in Perth and
on the same day consecrated the Church of England burial ground in
East Perth - Perth was part of the Diocese of Adelaide at the time.
(Some historians in the past have maintained that the Bishop consecrated
a mortuary chapel which had been built in the cemetery in 1848 but later
historans argued that all funerals were conducted off-site in local
churches and that it was not until 1871 that St. Bartholomew's Church was
built in the cemetery.)
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26/08/1854 |
Land was granted to the Independents (Congregationalists) for cemeteries
on Perth Town Lot T39 and to the Wesleyan Methodists on Lot T40.
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17/08/1860 |
James Brittain advertised in the newspaper to supply and install gravestones.
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14/06/1865 |
The new road through the Episcopalian Cemetery attracts more visitors than usual.
|
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15/05/1865 |
The public funeral of Harding, Panter and Goldwyer precipitated calls for the preserving and
beautification of the cemetery and for the construction of a burial chapel.
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31/01/1866 |
The Colonial Chaplain, James Brown, refused to bury James Pollitt, an habitual drunkard, in
the Church of England Cemetery.
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31/07/1867 |
Public debate raged in the press about the disregard and desecration of the cemeteries.
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08/1867 |
Land was granted for a Hebrew cemetery for the Jews on Perth Town Lot E72.
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17/10/1867 |
The Governor and the Surveyor General were petitioned to set aside a designated area in
Perth Town Lot E73 to the west of the newly gazetted Hebrew cemetery for the burial of felons
and the promiscuous. Since there are no records of Lot E73 being gazetted for the purpose, it
is possible that the Church of England had to allocate more of its cemetery instead.
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28/07/1869 |
The main cemetery and branch roadworks were completed.
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16/02/1871 |
St. Bartholomew's Mortuary Chapel was built by the Church of England and
consecrated by The Bishop of Perth.
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1876 |
Further land was granted to the Roman Catholic Church on Perth Town Lots T42 & T43. |
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1881 |
Land was granted for a cemetery for the Presbyterians on Perth Town Lots E70 & E71. |
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08/09/1881 |
A mock battle was staged on cemetery hill between soldiers enlisted in the State's volunteer
forces. The attackers were the Fremantle and Guildford Corps, and the defenders were members of
the Metropolitan Corps who were positioned on Cemetery Hill.
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1882 |
Further land was granted to the Congregationalists on Perth Town Lot T28, to the
Methodists on Lot T28 1/2, and to the Church of England on Lot T27. |
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16/08/1884 |
Debate about closing the cemeteries appeared in both the Legislature and
the newspapers.
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19/08/1888 |
St. Bartholomew's Chapel became a Parish Church until its closure in the early 1970s.
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09/1888 |
Land was granted to the Chinese for a cemetery on Perth Town Lot E69.
An interesting account of an early Chinese funeral was recorded in the newspaper.
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26/10/1889 |
A belfry was added to St. Bartholomew's Church.
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05/02/1892 |
Public debate about the closure of the cemeteries began to rage in the newspapers again.
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10/08/1892 |
A complaint appeared in the newspaper about the poor burial records kept at the cemeteries.
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24/04/1899 |
Karrakatta became the main burial ground for the metropolitan area although it was not
officially opened until November 4, 1900.
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12/07/1899 |
The East Perth Cemeteries were closed for burials, although burials in
vaults and existing family graves were permitted until May 1916. That date
was extended to 1919 if special permission was obtained and was finally
stopped in 1924, although even after then a few interments took place.
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22/03/1900 |
St. Bartholomew's Church was extended with the addition of a sanctuary and the enlargement
of the nave. A vestry was added at the back and a porch area at the front appears to have been
added later.
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1903 |
The Church of England sold Perth Town Lot T27 for residential sites.
The land was offered for public sale in 1910 as a middle class housing estate
called "Waterloo Heights". Two of the large houses built at the
time can still be seen at numbers 12 and 36 Waterloo Crescent.
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1906 |
The Government asked the Anglican Church for its views on closing the East Perth Cemetery.
The Trustees opposed the idea but said they would consider what limitation should be imposed on
burials in the cemetery. They added that they had already formed a voluntary Committee to keep
the Cemetery in order, and had arranged to collect burial fees and make them available for the
use of the Committee.
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1907 |
Wire doors and electric lights were added to St. Bartholomew's Church and it was renovated
inside and out.
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1908 |
The name 'disused cemetery' took on a new meaning as the cemetery fell into disrepair but
fortunately, in 1908, Misses Ethel Burt and Clara Clement decided to do something about it. They
knew many of the descendants of people buried there, got in touch with some of them, and
encouraged them to repair and restore the headstones. They also collected money which they used
for some repairs and improvements in the area. After they married and left the area, Alfred and
Octavius Burt continued the voluntary work.
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1910 |
The original shingles on St. Bartholomew's Church roof were replaced with corrugated iron.
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01/02/1911 |
The remains of Maitland Brown were removed from Karrakatta amd placed with those of Panter,
Harding and Goldwyer, the three explorers who had been killed by Aborigines in the West
Kimberley in 1864. Brown had led the expedition which found the bodies of the three murdered men
and brought them back to Perth for a heroes' burial in 1865. |
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1914 |
The Chinese Chung Wah Association wrote to the Government seeking permission to sell part of
the unused section of the cemetery and use the proceeds to maintain the neglected cemetery
grounds.
In the same year, the Church of England Trustees were asked to consider the possibility of
handing control of the cemeteries at East Perth over to a central board.
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1916 |
The deadline for use of vaults and family graves was extended to 1919.
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1917 |
Permission was granted to exhume the remains of the late William H. Langdon from the
Anglican Cemetery if all other official requirements were met.
Between 1917 and 1993, when the Anglican Cemetery was handed back to the Government, 24
exhumation requests were recorded.
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07/11/1921 |
Harry Tichbon died aged 95 years and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery. Harry had been a
gravedigger and sexton at the East Perth Cemetery for 40 years.
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1924 |
All burials were finally ceased in the cemeteries. |
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1929 |
With Western Australia approaching its centenary celebrations in June 1929, an interest in
the State's history was rekindled. The Western Australian Historical Society was formed in 1926
and together with the Australian Natives' Association and the Women's Section of the Primary
Producer's Association, it drew attention to the historic significance of the State's pioneer
cemeteries. Appeals were directed to the media, the Perth City Council and the State Government.
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30/10/1930 |
The dilapidated and neglected condition of the East Perth cemetery was
outlined in a paper presented to the Western Australian Historical Society
by Mr P.E.C. de Mouncey.
Around the same time reports of vandalism began to appear in the press.
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07/11/1932 |
The cemeteries were taken over by the Governement, re-vested in the
Crown under the "East Perth Cemeteries Act (1932)" and declared a
disused burial ground. A new "A" Class Reserve, No 21054, was created
which included all of the denominational grounds where burials took
place. It was placed under the control of the State Gardens Board.
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09/05/1934 |
The Reserve was vested in the State Gardens Board, and then later was
passed on to the National Parks Board in 1957, the National Parks
Authority of WA in 1976 and finally to the Department of Conservation
and Land Management in 1985.
The State Gardens Board tidied up the site, repaired fences and
paths, planted trees and employed a fulltime caretaker.
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1937 |
The Perth Girls' School was built on the corner of Wellington and Plain
Streets and later it was taken over by the Police Force. Its tennis
courts were built in 1958 on the land which originally housed the
Chinese and Presbyterian cemeteries. |
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08/1949 |
The State Government passed the Guildford Old Cemetery (Lands Revestment) Act which
permitted authorities to level, clear and re-model old cemeteries. Despite bitter public debate,
work was carried out on the Old Guildford Cemetery in 1951 and later on the East Perth cemetery.
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1950s |
The late 1940s saw a renewed interest in the cemetery after Sir Paul Hasluck,
whose father was buried there, expressed his concern at the neglect of such
an important historical site. Sir Paul enlisted the aid of Herb Graham, MLA
and Premier Ross McLarty.
The State Gardens Board and the Perth City Council revived the notion of
converting the grounds into a memorial park. However, public condemnation of
the proposal to destroy the old cemeteries, as well as the high cost of the
scheme, caused the Government to reconsider, and a less expensive proposal
was adopted in 1952.
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1952 |
Repairs and a clean-up were carried out on the cemeteries and all the
remaining gravesites and memorials which could be saved were to be
repaired and left in their original positions. Areas containing
unmarked graves were graded and grassed, internal public roads were to be
closed and incorporated into the Reserve. The former cemetery
sections on the west side of Plain Street (Presbyterian, Jewish and
Chinese) were excised from the Reserve and made available to the
Education Department for tennis courts for the Perth Girls' High
School.
A network of curving bitumen paths and roads was superimposed on the
original orthogonal layout of the various cemetery grounds and public
streets. Trees and circular garden beds were also introduced. All
boundary fences which had previously separated the individual
cemeteries were removed and a brick gardener's shed was built beside
one of the paths.
Memorials from the Presbyterian and Jewish cemeteries were removed to
the Cemetery Reserve and installed on the former road reservations.
They can still be seen there today.
The improvements made in 1952 are essentially still in place.
Vandalism and natural deterioration have meant the loss of additional
memorials, though these have not been extensive.
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06/06/1954 |
The Royal Western Australian Historical Society commemorated the 125th anniversary of
Western Australia and its pioneers in its inaugural Foundation Day pioneer's memorial service
in the cemetery.
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1954 |
St. Bartholomew's Church was renovated. |
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05/06/1955 |
The Royal Western Australian Historical Society commemorated the 126th anniversary of
Western Australia and its pioneers in its second annual pioneer's memorial service in the
cemetery.
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01/01/1956 |
Control of Perth Town Lot 767, where St. Bartholomew's Church and its driveway stand, was
leased to the Church of England Diocesan Trustees for a period of 50 years. |
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03/06/1956 |
The Royal Western Australian Historical Society commemorated the 127th anniversary of
Western Australia and its pioneers in its 1956 pioneer's memorial service in the cemetery.
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26/02/1957 |
Control of the Reserve was passed on to the newly formed National Parks Board.
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30/11/1957 |
A locally-made stained-glass window was installed and dedicated in St Bartholomew's Church.
Its design paid tribute to Western Australia's Aboriginal and European origins.
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11/1958 |
Bulldozers uncovered human remains while clearing land in the old Presbyterian and Chinese
burial grounds in readiness for tennis courts for the Perth Girl's High School.
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08/04/1960 |
Control of Perth Lot 805 was passed on to the National Parks Board as a public park. This
was the south-west corner of the general cemetery area which was originally the unused burial
ground (Perth Lot T28) granted to the Independents in 1882.
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23/10/1964 |
Control of Perth Lot 830 was passed on to the National Parks Board as a public park. This
was a portion of closed off streets.
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30/05/1965 |
The Royal Western Australian Historical Society honoured Panter, Harding and Goldwyer in
its 1965 pioneer's memorial service in the cemetery.
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09/02/1969 |
A ceremony was held in the grounds of St. Bartholomew's Church and Archbishop Appleton
ordained Captain Norman Polgen as a Deacon. It was said to be Australia's first open air
ordination and the first ordination of an Aborigine in Western Australia in 40 years.
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1970s |
St. Bartholomew's Church ceased to be used as a Parish Church. In its latter years it had
been used as a place of worship by homeless men from the nearby St. Bartholomew's House for
homeless men. The church had become so run down that it was under threat of demolition. |
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09/1971 |
Vandalism and storms badly damaged headstones in similar circumstances to those in 1969.
|
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1973 |
St. Bartholomew's Church and the East Perth cemeteries were classified by the National Trust
of Australia (WA). |
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17/12/1975 |
St. Bartholomew's and its driveway were vested in the National Trust (WA).
|
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06/1976 |
Since 1976 the Royal Western Australian Historical Society has been
holding annual Pioneer Memorial Services at the East Perth Cemetery
during Western Australia week on the first Sunday in June. Surnames of
pioneers who have been honoured in such services over the years include:
Roe, Wittenoom, Broun, Clarke, Bruce, Wimbridge, Sutherland, Finnerty,
Jones, Mellor, Richards, Dower, Seeligson, Jewell, Hasluck, Wells,
Ranford and Lefroy.
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01/08/1976 |
Control of the Reserve was passed on to the newly formed National Parks Authority of WA.
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12/12/1976 |
Throughout 1976 restoration work was carried out on St. Bartholomew's and its belfry. The
work was funded by a $15,000 grant from the National Estate Programme and a $1500 donation from
the Perth City Council. A replacement bell was located by the East Perth Rotary Club and another
grant of $750 was used to resore the windows. The Government asked the National Trust to
supervise the restoration and the church was re-dedicated as a place of worship by the
Assistant Bishop of Perth, Brian Macdonald.
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1978 |
St. Bartholomew's Church and the East Perth cemeteries were entered on the Register of the
National Estate. |
|
1978 |
The bell which was installed in 1976 was stolen in 1978 and after a successful insurance
claim, a new one was made locally and installed in 1979. |
|
1978 |
A memorial to Abraham Morgan, who died on July 15, 1830, was erected in the cemetery by his
descendants. |
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03/06/1979 |
In a service marking Western Australia's 150th aniversary, the memory of Governor Andrew
Clarke was honored, a commemoration service for Abraham Morgan was attended by 90 of his
decendants in St. Bartholomew's Church, and Lady Kyle, the wife of the current Governor, planted
a tree in the cemeteries to celebrate the "Year of Trees".
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1979 |
A memorial to Sophia and Thomas Hester was erected in the cemetery by their descendants
during Western Australia's sesquicentennial year. |
|
1983-1986 |
A survey of the extent, condition and characteristics of all grave
markings was completed for the RWAHS and CALM by Dr James Richardson and
David Davies.
|
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22/03/1985 |
Control of the Reserve was passed on to the newly formed Department of Conservation and
Land Management (CALM).
|
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06/05/1986 |
CALM enclosed the site with a 2-metre high wire-mesh fence in an
attemp to stop the repeated vandalism of headstones and railings.
The site was then kept locked between 4.30pm and 7.30am.
The fence was also required before the Historical Society could take
advantage of a $5000 W.A. Heritage Committee grant for restoring
the cemetery. Repairs were then carried out on about 15 grave sites.
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19/05/1991 |
A newly elected Perth City Councillor, Valerie Hampton, called for the conversion of the
fenced up and neglected cemetery site into a tourist and recreational area with the gravestones
moved and concentrated in a central location with a small museum.
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1991 |
CALM approached the National Trust of Australia (WA) to take over the
East Perth Cemeteries. The Trust established a Steering Commitee to
devise management control and a conservation plan for the East Perth
Cemeteries and St. Bartholomew's Church.
The Heritage Council pledged $10,000 a year over three years for the
Cemeteries and the money helped provide the conservation plans and
programmes for the site.
The East Perth Redevelopment Authority assisted by funding the July
1991 landscape conservation study prepared by Research & Heritage
Conservation Consultant, Ms Oline Richards.
Later an enhancement and management proposal based on the guidelines
contained in the conservation study was commissioned from Thompson &
Palmer Landscape Architects. |
|
1992 |
The National Trust established the East Perth Cemeteries Management
Committee, chaired by conservation architect, Mr Ron Bodycoat. A
conservation plan was commissioned and Miss Thelma Jones was
appointed Honorary Warden. |
|
1992-1993 |
The East Perth Redevelopment Authority provided funds which were used to
put in place the first stage of the landscape enhancement plan. This
was carried out with assistance from the Westrek Foundation involving
15 young people, and the LEAP (Landcare Environment Action) programme
with a further 30 people taking part. |
|
04/1993 |
A fieldwork article and assignment kit was published by the History Teachers' Association of
Western Australia in its Hindsight magazine. The material was to be used in the classroom
and by school groups visiting the cemetery. |
|
1993-1994 |
The National Trust trained teams of volunteer guides and the East Perth
Cemeteries were re-opened to the public on a regular basis with
guided tours. The cemeteries were officially vested in the National Trust in 1994.
|
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04/1994 |
Heirisson Rotary Club funded and carried out reconstruction of the
St. Bartholomew's Church belfry.
At the same time 25 volunteers, including teachers and students from
the Girrawheen High School, assisted with a general site cleanup and
weeding gravesites. |
|
27/09/1994 |
A monument dedictated to Chinese pioneers was unveiled in the East Perth
cemetery and a plaque was placed at the site of the original Chinese
cemetery which was reclaimed for public use and made available to the
Education Department in the 1950s.
|
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08/10/1995 |
The National Trust launched an East Perth Cemeteries conservation appeal with an open day
and guided tours of the the cemeteries after a re-enactment of the 1847 funeral procession of
WA Governor, Lt.-Col. Andrew Clarke.
A Friends of the East Perth Cemeteries group was launched at the same time.
|
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01/1998 |
Two projects were completed and published by the Western Australian Genealogical Society.
Both were released on microfiche. The first was a transcription of the burial register for St.
George's Cathedral in Perth from 1854 to 1916. The second was an index of East Perth burials for
the 21 year period between 1896 and 1916. It was taken from the Government Death Registers held
in the Public Record Office in Perth. |
|
1999 |
A primary and secondary school resource kit was produced by the National Trust and the
History Teachers' Association of WA with financial assistance from Federal and State heritage
funds. The material was used in the classroom and by school groups as they visited the cemetery. |
|
09/09/1999 |
A commemorative service was held in the cemetery to recognise two historic burial grounds -
East Perth and Karrakatta. It was 100 years since the old cemetery officially closed and the
other opened. The Governor unveiled a plaque and planted nine trees to mark the occasion.
|
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07/05/2000 |
A memorial cross and plaque were dedicated to seven Catholic priests who travelled to Perth
from Ireland and died young and suddenly over 100 years ago. The need for a grave marker was
first suggested in the Catholic Record newspaper way back in 1880.
|
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25/03/2001 |
A restored Jewish Memorial Cemetery was officially opened on the site
of the original Jewish Cemetery in East Perth. During the 1860s there were
less that 60 Jewish people in Perth. After the Jewish burial ground was
opened in 1867, about 30 people were buried there before burials were moved
to the new Karrakatta Cemetery which opened in 1899.
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