Darkan Cemetery

Statement of Significance

The gravestones of the cemetery record the history of local residents especially that of pioneer families and their descendants.

Physical Description

The Cemetery is set in 4 ha of land surrounded by a thin strip of bushland on three sides. The area was initially divided into the three denominations of the Founding era, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Methodist faiths. This practice is not conformed to as strictly these days.

The main entrance on the eastern side is covered by a portico and is used as an assembly area for burial parties. To the west of the entrance is a small Niche Wall of brick construction erected in 1982/83 and the first deposit was made on 10 May 1983 (Patricia Hall).

There is a plaque on a rock at the front of the cemetery which reads:
“To commemorate the memory of the pioneers of the West Arthur Shire. West Arthur
Bicentennial Community Committee 1988”

History

The first burial recorded in the cemetery was that of Pearl Ivy Brown in 1914. Pearl was 24 years of age, the wife of Henry Harrison Brown Jnr. of Mt. Brown, Arthur River, killed in World War 1(1). Pearl was one of the daughters of Mrs. Johnson of Darkan (she was well know as Mrs 17 Johnson because of the number of kids she looked after –not all of them her own).

The oldest citizen buried in the Darkan Cemetery is Maude King who was 103 years of age. She was the wife of Mick King and daughter of C.F.Brown and wife Elizabeth.

The strong Christian faith of some of the early settlers is represented by tall iconic headstones with scrolled wrought iron surrounds and appropriate wording. As the century progressed burial inscriptions tended to reflect the growing secular society and denomination burials became less apparent.

From 1921-56 fourteen children under the age of seventeen were buried in the cemetery. Several babies were still born or lost within a few days and several mothers died in labour. An eleven year old girl was murdered on her way to school.

The only serving Aboriginal soldier buried is Frank H. Smith whose headstone records ‘Lest We Forget. He served in the AIF during WW1.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: The cemetery has evolved over time
Extent of original fabric: Most

Condition

Good (although some graves are beginning to collapse as a result of rabbit burrowings. Some individual graves appear to no longer be maintained by family members)

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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.