Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery

Statement of Significance

The place has historic value as the first cemetery established in the Canning district, and is the only remaining evidence of the social centre of Kenwick, which was one of the earliest settlements in Western Australia along the Swan/Canning River system, and was the core of the Canning district during the mid to late 1800s; Although no longer open for public burials, the place provides evidence of the many families associated with the Canning district from the 1860s to 2001; Established as a local cemetery in the 1860s, the place illustrates the original isolation of Kenwick and the Canning district from closely settled areas such as Perth and Fremantle during the mid to late 1800s, and provides evidence of the harsh conditions of the early years of settlement; The place has social value to the families and descendants of those buried in the cemetery and to the local community as a place associated with many of the district’s early pioneers.

Physical Description

The Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery is located in the industrial sector of Kenwick and provides a green space amongst the industrial sheds. The cemetery is located on the eastern side of Albany Highway and is partially obscured from the street by the trees and is protected from the street by cyclone fencing. A small gravel car park is located to the southern end of the Cemetery and Bickley Brook forms the southern boundary to the site. A pathway winds its way from the car park to the centrally placed grave sites called the ‘Historic Walk’. The path is lined with rocks with interpretation plaques telling the story of Kenwick and the cemetery. The graves are arranged in family groups and located predominantly in the central section of the cemetery, with the older graves being enclosed by wrought iron fencing. Beyond the car park, access to the Memorial Wall is via a stone gazebo with seating in between the columns. The memorial is constructed of the same random stone with a centrally placed plaque naming the Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery Interments.

History

The Kenwick Cemetery was first surveyed in 1864, on land donated by Samuel Wallace Bickley. A multi-purpose building to house a courthouse, school, police constable and place for church services was built on the site in 1865-66, with the church bell first rung on 7 January 1866. Burials in the cemetery also date from early 1866. In 1880 the building burnt down. A new stone church with an octagonal apse was designed by R. Bird and built by P. Reilly for £400. The foundation stone was laid by Lady Leake on 10 October 1883, and the church, known as St Michael's, was consecrated by Bishop Parry on 29 September 1884. A bible, prayer book and missal were presented on 1 July 1885 by Governor Sir Frederick Napier Broome and the font was given by the Sheriff, J. B. Roe. The church was capable of holding 100 people, but the foundations were not well done and the building was badly cracked by 1896. It was demolished in 1900, and the stone was used for road making. Some years later the foundation stone was accidentally dug up and was then lodged at St Luke's Church. The Kenwick Cemetery continued as a public burial ground until 1914 when it was closed for a short period. In the 1930s, the Gosnells Road Board took over administration of the place from the local Cemetery Board. Over the years the poor state of the Kenwick Cemetery was raised by a number of residents. It was variously described as an 'eye-sore', 'dilapidated' and 'ugly'. In the 1980s the Cemetery was cleaned up and renamed Kenwick Cemetery Gardens. It was later renamed Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery. The Cemetery was formally closed on 27 July 2001. The last person on the 'right to burial' list was interred on 11 September 2007. Those buried in the Cemetery include a number of representatives of the Gibbs, Harris, Morrow, Shepherd, White and Dellar families. There are approximately one hundred and eighty people, including infants, buried in the Cemetery but not all graves are marked. Today the Cemetery is situated in the middle of an industrial area and is maintained by the City of Gosnells.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree Authenticity: High degree

Condition

Good: well maintained

Uses

Creation Date

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