Local Government
Karratha
Region
Pilbara
Madigan Rd Baynton, Karratha
At the junction with Dampier Road, mE 478185 mN 7705784, Longitude116.7904 Latitude: -20.7475
Karratha
Pilbara
Constructed from 1980
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
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| (no listings) |
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| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
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| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 01 Sep 2013 | Category B | |
The Karratha Cemetery holds spiritual and social significance for its memorialisation of the life and death of Karratha residents. It reflects the growing and changing population of Karratha with the diverse influence of migrants from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
The Karratha Cemetery is located on the outskirts of Karratha. Head stones are of varied design, reflecting an individualistic approach to memorialisation of life and frequently providing a window into the life of Karratha residents. Grave sites are of many religious denominations and the cemetery doesn’t appear to be divided into religious areas. A memorial for cremations is built from salmon and red brick in a triangular form located in the centre of the back perimeter of the cemetery, where ashes are interred in the niche wall. The cemetery is not densely populated; people tend to be buried elsewhere and the town has no funeral directors. The barren landscape is planted with Robinia trees around the perimeter of the cemetery, providing some shade for seating.
Planning for the town of Karratha began in 1968, with the first permanent buildings constructed in 1970. The development of the town was as a combined effort between the State Government and Hamersley Iron to accommodate the workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining company. The original cemetery for the region was the Roebourne Cemetery. However, with the construction of the Roebourne village housing project adjacent to the Roebourne Cemetery, which caused great offence to the Aboriginal community, the cemetery was subject to vandalism and reached capacity without the ability to expand in area. The Shire of Roebourne Council allocated funds for the creation of two new cemeteries – one in Roebourne (located near the Roebourne Regional Prison) and one in Karratha. The plans for the new cemeteries included water supplies, bitumised car parking areas and gardens.1 There are a few distinctive graves, including the grave of a sailor, David Reginald Legge (1932-2003), which is marked by a post with ship’s bell and a ship’s rope demarcating the grave site with the inscription ‘Farewell Captain: a good mate to all’.
There is considered to be little research potential for archaeology at this site.
Complete
Good
| Ref Number | Description |
|---|---|
| 26 | Municipal Inventory |
Other Built Type
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Cemetery |
| Present Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Cemetery |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OTHER | Other Sub-Theme |
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