State Government heritage lists Albany Memorial Park Cemetery

21/6/02
Western Australia's first consecrated cemetery has been interim listed by the State Government in Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said Memorial Park in Albany was not only the State's longest serving public cemetery, but was also one of the first colonial era cemeteries to be established.
"Opened in 1840, Memorial Park is the only surviving cemetery of the original eight gazetted in 1848 to have not been significantly altered," Dr Edwards said.
"Ongoing maintenance and protection of the cemetery can be attributed to strong community support. Despite the cemetery being closed since 1959, the hillside location has since been enhanced with the addition of a botanical garden and recreational land."
Located on both sides of Middleton Road, Dr Edwards said the 2.5ha was home to some 500 graves.
"Memorial Park is an excellent source of information on the region's population, life expectancy, family sizes, genealogical information and social customs," she said.
"The cemetery also provides an important link to the region's past, as it is the burial ground for many people involved in WA's colonisation and early history."
Dr Edwards said Memorial Park was the resting place for many members of the Cull, Egerton-Warburton, Hassell, Moir, Muir and Spencer families, as well as individuals of State prominence such as Henry Camfield, Dr Alexander Collie and Rev John R Wallaston.
"In addition to its historical links, the cemetery is well known for the artistry and craftsmanship displayed in the ironwork and stone masonry," she said.
"Throughout the grounds can be seen various forms of the cross, anchors, urns, clasping hands and flowers. The collection of sculptures in themselves make Memorial Park a place of some significance."
Dr Edwards said even the location of the cemetery provided a tangible reminder of Albany's development.
"A directive issued by Captain James Stirling that burial grounds be set apart from township or parishes represented the need to make room for the town's projected expansion," she said.
"While the one mile distance from the town centre was initially thought to be inconvenient by local residents, it is interesting to note that the cemetery was eventually closed as it was considered too close to the town centre."
Dr Edwards said the name of 'Memorial Park' had been chosen through a public survey held in 1963.
The listing follows the State Government's recent announcement to slash the backlog of buildings waiting for heritage assessment and potential listing. Under the Government's accelerated registration program, 550 assessments are anticipated to be completed over the next three years.
Minister's office: 9220 5050