Bridgetown Cemetery

Statement of Significance

The Bridgetown Cemetery is a memorial, tribute and record of the people of the Bridgetown District, from the earliest settlers to the more recent. Aesthetic Value Bridgetown Cemetery is of moderate aesthetic value as a well laid out cemetery, with simple to more elaborate gravesites, rose gardens, niche wall, garden wall and lawn section. Historic Value Bridgetown Cemetery is of high historic value as a record of many of the early settlers of the Bridgetown district, their families that followed and other inhabitants over the years. Research Value The Bridgetown Cemetery is of high to moderate research value. Social Value Bridgetown Cemetery is of high social value to the community. It is a place where family and friends come together either immediately following the death of a loved one or in ongoing visits. It can be a place of research and interest for people tracing family or local history. Representativeness The Bridgetown Cemetery is typical of a country cemetery from the early 1900’s

Physical Description

The Bridgetown Cemetery is on a reserve covering 11.58ha, of which only approximately a quarter is cleared of the native gumtrees. As at the beginning of 2019 the cemetery contains a total of 1938 gravesites (plots), 112 places in a double faced Niche Wall and 36 memorial ‘places’ on the ‘Boronia Garden Memorial Wall’. There are also two rose gardens and a number of memorialised trees. The cemetery is divided by three main avenues, lined with trees, with gravesite plots laid out for denominations of Methodist, Roman Catholic, Uniting and Anglican, as well as nondenominational. The Niche Wall, Boronia Garden Memorial Wall and new Lawn Cemetery Section are all non-denominational. The types of headstones, monuments and ledgers vary in size and materials. A number of the more elaborate older gravesites are mounted cross monuments surrounded in wrought iron fencing or rough cut granite. Some of the more elaborate contemporary gravesites are a complete ledger of polished granite. There is also a growing number of headstones and ledgers with laser cut pictures of the deceased.

History

The first Cemetery in Bridgetown was Pioneer Cemetery, situated on the corner of Nelson Street and Pioneer Street (previously Campbell Street), close to the centre of town. This cemetery came into use in c.1878. The Pioneer Cemetery was cleared, consecrated, and loosely officiated over by the Anglican Church, rather than being a public cemetery. There were denominational sections for Anglican, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. By 1905 the Pioneer Cemetery was becoming ill-maintained and the question of public health was being asked due to the burial sites being so close to Geegelup Brook and other tributary creek lines. This also led to the question of where all the fees to the Anglican Church were being spent, if not on the cemetery. Some dispute also began as to which Ministers were allowed to hold burial rites in which sections, as not all religions were catered for. This led to the proposal of a new Public Cemetery for Bridgetown. A Public Cemetery Board was created and plans began, with much discussion and some dispute from the public. Some 28 acres of bushland was allocated, approximately 1 km further west along Nelson Street, from the Original (Pioneer) Cemetery. Clearing began with two and a quarter acres on the eastern end of the reserve, around October 1908 with denominational sections and plots laid out soon after. The Cemetery was officially Gazetted on the 23 July 1909, however the first burial had already taken place on the 25 June 1909. (Mrs Elizabeth Mary May, first wife of John May, Grave 24; Section 1; compartment 1). A number of Bridgetown’s most well known early pioneers are buried here, including John & Kate Allnutt, Joseph and Eliza Smith and Henry and Elizabeth Doust. All three of these sit on a double plot with a single monument for both husband and wife, with a cross atop. That of the Dousts’ being a Celtic Cross. Other notable historic persons buried here are HA Gordon Holdsworth (local & international artisan), Francis Edward Sykes Wilmott (MLA, a founder of the Country Party/National Party) and Ltnt Colonel Henry George Vialls (British Army; Boer War) Other early European settlers buried here, many of whose descendants still live in the local area, include members of the Allnutt, Bagshaw, Blechynden, Browne, Crowd, Doust, EgertonWarburton, Hall, Hester, Klopper, Lynam, May, McAlinden, Mottram, Moulton, Scott, Smith, Walter, Wheatley, Williams and Willmott families.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity High Authenticity High The Bridgetown Cemetery has had no changes to previous gravesites, but continues to grow and develop as more burials and memorial spaces are needed.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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