Local Government
Perth
Region
Metropolitan
2 Bronte St East Perth
EPRA
East Perth Cemeteries
East Perth Cemetery & St Bartholomews Church
Perth
Metropolitan
Constructed from 1829
Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heritage List | Adopted | 20 Dec 1985 | ||
State Register | Registered | 23 Apr 2020 |
Register Entry Assessment Documentation |
Heritage Council |
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
(no listings) |
Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Category | Description | ||||
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 | YES | 31 Dec 1999 |
|
Heritage Council | |
Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 06 Aug 1973 |
|
Heritage Council | |
Register of the National Estate | Permanent | 21 Mar 1978 |
|
Heritage Council | |
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 13 Mar 2001 | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
|
Local Heritage Survey | Completed\Draft | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
||
Local Heritage Survey | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
The place is rare as a group of intact colonial cemeteries located within the central business district of an Australian capital city.
The place has important associations with early colonial settlers from the 1830s to the 1890s, including government administrators, well-known families, religious leaders and other prominent people involved in the development of colonial Perth.
The place contains a wide range of memorials, which reflect the traditions, and trends of different religious denominations until the late nineteenth century, including particularly fine examples that demonstrate the skill, artistry and craftsmanship of their time.
The place has the potential to yield information, through archaeological investigation, relating to the population of the State, such as life expectancy, family size, religious affiliation, ethnicity, and genealogy.
St Bartholomew’s Church is the only example of a mortuary chapel constructed in Western Australia, which was later converted for use as a parish church.
The place contributes to the community’s sense of place as a tangible reminder of the contribution of early settlers to the development of Perth.
The place has landmark quality on a hill top site, and its dry, ‘rural style’ landscape setting offers an experience of isolation and tranquillity that is unique in an area now surrounded by urban development.
The cemetery comprises of a number of formerly separated denominational burial grounds dating from 1829 and a mortuary chapel in the Church of England Cemetery later used as a Parish Church. The site is now designated Disused Burial Ground.
In 1842 the property was allocated to be used as a burial site. The cemetery was open to Church of England initially, then was open to Roman Catholic, Congregational, Wesley churches, then Jewish community. In 1871 the chapel was designed by Richard Roach Jewell and located in the Church of England section. In 1897 Karrakatta cemetery was allocated as an alternative to East Perth which people were concerned about as a health hazard. By 1899 East Perth cemetery was designated as a disused cemetery. Approximately 10,000 people were buried there, with only 800 headstones remaining. In 1910 some of the disused area of the cemetery had been sold for housing. There was public concern that the cemetery was in a bad state of repair and two local residents lobbied for fundraising to maintain the cemetery. St Bartholomew’s Church was still in use into the 1970s even though it was deteriorating during this time. In the 1950s some of the land from the Presbyterian, Jewish and Chinese sections was given to the Education Department for use by Perth Girls School.
In the 1990s a fence was erected around the perimeter, a memorial to the Chinese people buried in the cemetery was placed inside the grounds and the Jewish cemetery was set aside as a reserve. Restored headstones were placed in this area. The whole cemetery is vested with the National Trust. A small portion is a park and is vested to the City of Perth.
High integrity.
High authenticity.
Good
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
---|---|---|---|
MRA Register of Heritage Places Assessment document - East Perth Cemeteries | 2020 | ||
'Conservation Plan: East Perth Cemeteries', prepared by Fiona Bush, Philip Palmer & Ronald Bodycoat for the National Trust of Australia (WA) | National Trust WA | January 2005 | |
3.109A | COP Heritage Place File | City of Perth |
Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
---|---|---|---|
2968 | The East Perth Cemeteries - A Student Work Book | Report | 0 |
5584 | The Gateway Project : a vision for Perth's eastern gateway (masterplan). | Brochure | 2004 |
9229 | East Perth Cemeteries: Conservation plan | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 2005 |
2967 | The East Perth Cemeteries - A Teacher Resource Book | Report | 0 |
2956 | The conservation of monumental headstones. | Heritage Study {Other} | 1997 |
888 | The East Perth Cemeteries Conservation Plan | Heritage Study {Other} | 1992 |
942 | East Perth cemetery landscape conservation study : the East Perth study | Report | 1991 |
7731 | Gateway - depot precinct: design guidelines and performance standards for development. | Report | 2004 |
Individual Building or Group
Epoch | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Original Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Cemetery |
Present Use | RELIGIOUS | Church, Cathedral or Chapel |
Original Use | RELIGIOUS | Church, Cathedral or Chapel |
Present Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Cemetery |
Style |
---|
Victorian Rustic Gothic |
Type | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Roof | TIMBER | Shingle |
Wall | BRICK | Common Brick |
General | Specific |
---|---|
PEOPLE | Early settlers |
PEOPLE | Famous & infamous people |
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Depression & boom |
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Religion |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.