Old Karridale Cemetery

Statement of Significance

Old Karridale Cemetery is of significance: • As the burial ground for a number of people involved in the European settlement of the region, in particular those associated with the timber industry initiated by M.C. Davies. • For its social value through its religious, historical, familial, and personal associations.

Physical Description

The site has not been maintained as a cemetery since the early twentieth century and is now heavily overgrown. The only remaining headstone is a marble monument featuring a trefoil cap with an engraved dove of peace (which has been broken from the base). This monument reads: Erected By his sorrowing widow In memory of Robert Ross, Who died August 13, 1892, Aged 46 years. “In the midst of life we are in death” Other evidence noted during a site inspection in 2012 included a burnt timber memorial set at the head of an area roughly marked out by fieldstones, and a second mound of fieldstones that may mark another burial site.

History

A heritage survey of the old Karridale Cemetery, undertaken in 2004, concluded that this was just one of the burial grounds that were used in association with timber milling operations in the area during the late nineteenth century (see also Place # HB-01, Hamelin Bay Gravesite), in addition to the more established public cemeteries at Augusta and Busselton. It was also noted that the lack of formal burial registers meant that the actual location of local burials was not recorded (including reference to the specific burial ground). Burials are believed to have commenced at the old Karridale Cemetery in about 1882 (with the establishment of the Karridale Mill). As noted above, documentary evidence is scanty, but there may have been about 20 to 35 burials in this location between c.1882 and c.1898. It is possible that a few related burials may have continued at the old burial sites into the very early twentieth century, but in 1898 the original timber milling cemeteries were effectively replaced when the new Karridale Cemetery was gazetted near Hamelin Bay (Place # HB-03). In 2004 it was reported that there were only two surviving headstones within an overgrown bush site, including the marble headstone for Robert William Ross, an engine driver who was killed by a falling log in August 1892.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Low: The use has been altered and the original use cannot be readily discerned. Authenticity - Low: The place has been considerably altered, with the loss of significant fabric. The original intent/character is no longer clearly evident.

Condition

Poor *Assessed from streetscape survey only.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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