East Perth Cemeteries

Child Places

• 12870 Jewish Cemetery

Statement of Significance

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.

Physical Description

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.

History

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.

Integrity/Authenticity

High integrity. High authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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