Heritage grant awarded for Gosnells cemetery

5/12/01
A $5,000 grant for the Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery on Albany Highway in Gosnells will be used to create a conservation plan for the site, Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards announced today.
The grant was awarded through the 2001-2002 Heritage Grants Program administered by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. It is part of a $1.03million allocation, which will support 63 conservation projects across the State.
"A conservation plan will help to determine the historical significance of the cemetery and how this may be retained in future use and development," Dr Edwards said.
Conservation plans are recognised as the primary guiding documents for the conservation of heritage places.
"They will recommend and prioritise various conservation works to ensure the heritage value of the cemetery is preserved for coming generations," Dr Edwards said.
The Kenwick Cemetery has records of burials going back to 1866. It was used as a public burial ground until 1914, when it was closed for a short period.
In the 1930s, the Gosnells Shire took over its administration from the Cemetery Trustee Board.
Then, in the 1970s, the cemetery was cleaned up and renamed Kenwick Cemetery Gardens.
"Though not formally closed, burials in the cemetery were restricted to pioneer families, with only a few exceptions," Dr Edwards said.
"The pioneer families buried in the cemetery include representatives of the Gibbs, Harris, Morrow and Shepherd families.
"The Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery represents an important link to the early pioneers of the Kenwick district, such as the Harris family."
Minister's office: 9220 5050