Kukerin Cemetery

Author

Shire of Dumbleyung

Place Number

13337

Location

Pike Rd Kukerin

Location Details

Local Government

Dumbleyung

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1923

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 17 Oct 2002 Category B

Statement of Significance

The Kukerin Cemetery has historic, representative and social cultural heritage significance. The cemetery since 1923 has been the resting place of many pioneers and community members who contributed to the development of Kukerin. The cemetery is representative of a class of places important to a community.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Cemetery in an open bush setting • Graves in good condition • Granite and marble headstones mainly intact • Area between graves mainly gravel Some obvious modifications include: • Removal of trees to protect graves

History

A public meeting, held in the Agricultural Hall on 12 February 1921, resulted in the formation of a Kukerin Cemetery Board with seven people willing to act as trustees. In April 1921 a letter from the Lands Department approved the gazetting of the land as requested and on the 29 November 1923 Rev Cook (a Methodist Minister from Dumbleyung) performed the first registered burial in the Kukerin Cemetery. The first grave, belonging to EM Pierce, is located some distance behind the present cemetery. The head stone and grave surrounds are unique. The inscription below the name appears to be in Gaelic: "GANEDIG O ISLAWRDREF,DOLGELLAW, NORTH WALES." Translation: Born below the down of Dolgellan, North Wales (from Ancient Celtic) The Kukerin Cemetery Board administered the cemetery until 1949 when it was placed under the management of the Dumbleyung Road Board. The Kukerin Cemetery is situated one and a half kilometres north west of Kukerin. Most of the graves appear to be in good condition with headstones and surrounds intact. On the edge of the cemetery was a row of shady trees. All trees (Sugar Gums) within and adjacent to the cemetery were removed in 1997 as they were undermining graves. The Kukerin Townscape Committee undertook a total revamp of the cemetery in 1997/98, including new landscaping, paving, fencing, niche wall and gazebo. The Kukerin Cemetery is the resting place of many of the pioneer families of Kukerin and surrounding districts. Many of these early families came from the United Kingdom, arriving in Western Australia with no capital. Once settled, they gave much back to the district in devoted service to the community eg Mr A Troup, Mr I Smith. Some of them served on the Dumbleyung Roads Board, contributing also the building of the hospital and hall.

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
O'Brien Planning Consultants; "Municipal Heritage Inventory". Shire of Dumbleyung 1998
J Timperley; "Beyond the Fence: A History of Kukerin, Moluyinning and Nearby Communities". 1996

Place Type

Historic site

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use MONUMENT\CEMETERY Cemetery
Original Use MONUMENT\CEMETERY Cemetery

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Other STONE Granite
Other STONE Marble

Creation Date

23 Sep 2002

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.