Dom Serra Grove

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance for the City of Subiaco: • As one of two small cemetery reserves in Daglish that were used for the burials of victims of infectious diseases in 1893-1897 and retained as unconsecrated cemeteries until 1906 (historic and social values). • For its development as a public recreation ground from the mid-1920s, serving the communities of Jolimont and Daglish (historic and social values). • For the way in which it interprets the name of ‘Subiaco’ through its current name, memorial, artworks and landscaping.

Physical Description

The two (pre-1950) box trees along the Hay Street frontage remain as prominent elements of this site. The remainder of the area features the 1980 olive grove set within an informal layout of paths, seating, mixed plantings and interpretive artworks, dating from c.2013. On-site interpretation relates to the Subiaco monastery, which had been established on the shores of Lake Monger (at West Leederville) in 1851, and from which the suburb of Subiaco later took its name. No permanent installations relate to the original use of the reserve as a cemetery or its later development for a local tennis club.

History

In April 1893, in response to an outbreak of smallpox in central Perth, a fever ward, widely referred to as the Subiaco encampment, was erected on the Perth Commonage (in the area later developed as the Victoria Hospital and then the Selby Street Rehabilitation Hospital). In addition to isolating infected patients, particular care was taken to ensure that associated burials did not provide any opportunities for the spread of disease. Under the order of the health officials, these burials took place at night, with “all the necessary disinfectants”. While the hospital encampment was located immediately west of what is now Selby Street, the two small (1 acre/ 0.4 ha) cemeteries associated with this facility were located near the northern end of what is now known as Daglish. Cemetery Reserve 6845 Reserve 6845 was located in the area now occupied as Dom Serra Grove (SE corner Hay Street and Jersey Street). This was used for approximately 17 burials. Cemetery Reserve 4566 Reserve 4566 was located between the present-day Robinson Terrace and Richardson Terrace and extended across the linking section of Troy Terrace. This was used for approximately 26 burials. The first reported death from the 1893 epidemic was Ellen Amelia Montague, who, in a weakened condition after a still-birth, succumbed to smallpox on the 18th April. Ellen’s burial took place at midnight at Reserve 6845 and it was reported that: She was placed in a coffin tarred inside and out, and containing a quantity of quicklime. The funeral arrangements were under the charge of Mr. D. Chipper, who was accompanied to the burying ground by a policeman. A priest applied for permission to be present at the interment, but the Health Officer, whilst not actually forbidding it, strongly advised that the attendance at the grave be limited as the circumstances would allow The smallpox epidemic was over by the middle of 1893, but these unconsecrated cemeteries continued to be used for some of the victims of other infectious diseases, such as typhoid fever. Both sites were officially closed in 1897. In 1906 the bodies were exhumed (together with 3 on private land at Jolimont) for reburial in consecrated ground at Karrakatta. Reserve 6845 was later developed as a local park and in 1926 the Subiaco Council approved funds for the installation of playground equipment in this location (with similar equipment also being approved for Kitchener Park, Rankin Road Reserve, Onslow Road Reserve, and Bagot Road Reserve). In the following year permission was granted for the Jolimont Tennis Club to develop 3 tennis courts on the old cemetery reserve. A historical aerial photograph shows that the two mature box trees along the Hay Street frontage were well-established in 1953, but that the tennis courts had been abandoned. This suggests that these trees (which are the only pre-1980 landscaping elements) were associated with its inter-war era development as a recreation area. After the closure of the courts, it does not appear that the area was fenced or well maintained as a park until c.1970 (following the development of the former university endowment lands to the south). Even then it was primarily left as an open grassed area. In 1980 the next phase of landscaping commenced when a grove of olive trees was planted, the reserve re-named Dom Serra Grove and a memorial plaque installed: The olive grove which surrounds this plaque commemorates the 1500th Anniversary of the birth of Saint Benedict Anno Domini 480 and acknowledges that the City of Subiaco, Western Australia derived its name from the monastery established in the neighbourhood in the year 1851 by the Most Reverend Joseph Serra O.S.B. The grove was planted by His Worship the Mayor of Subiaco Mr. R. V. Diggin, J.P. and the Reverend Father Justin O.S.B., Prior of the Benedictine Monastery New Norcia on 5th of September, 1980. In 2002 the reserve was entered on the Municipal Inventory (now the Local Government Heritage Survey) for its heritage values as a local park. More formal landscaping, including paths, garden beds and interpretive artworks, was undertaken in 2013 and this design won the 2013 Parks and Leisure WA Awards of Excellence.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low: As a cemetery . High: As a public park commemorating the source of the name ‘Subiaco’.

Condition

Good: The site is generally well maintained.

Uses

Creation Date

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