Karrakatta Cemetery - History Tree

Date: 1899 [unknown]
Location: Railway Road, Karrakatta, Western Australia
Surnames/tags: Cemeteries Heritage_Tree History_Tree

Karrakatta Cemetery - mcb.wa.gov | 2 photos: 022457PD: Karrakatta Cemetery, 1930s

History: Dating from 1899,

Karrakatta Cemetery contains the graves of many notable persons including

Prime Minister John Curtin, Profile 17. and

Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck. Profile 16.

Enter the details of the name you wish to search in MCB (2022) | Find a Grave Search site

Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899. This historic cemetery is the final resting place of many thousands of Western Australians. Monuments and headstones bear many famous names including those of university founders, writers and historians, state premiers and other auspicious individuals.

The cemetery is centrally located just seven kilometres west of Perth City centre, and is one of six managed by The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board more . . .

Historical Walk Trails : There are two.

The guardian of over a century of Western Australia’s social and cultural history, Karrakatta has many stories to tell.

Karrakatta Cemetery has many stories to tell and is a rich source of Perth’s social and cultural history.
Located opposite Karrakatta station and practically midway between Perth and Fremantle, the original intention was that the cemetery should serve Perth, Fremantle, and the intervening districts. However Fremantle residents considered it too far away from them, and obtained a reserve on the boundary of their town.

Karrakatta was fenced with a substantial picket fence, reticulated and planted with 1,400 trees. Troughs for horses and teams were placed in strategic spots along the roads. A mortuary chapel and a lodge were built to accommodate the resident superintendent.

Portions of the cemetery were allotted based on the findings of the most recent census. Church of England – 40 acres, Roman Catholic – 25 acres, Wesleyan – 15 acres, Congregational – 10 acres, Presbyterian – 10 acres, Baptists 4.5 acres, Jewish – 4 acres, Salvation Army – 4 acres, Church of Christ – 2 acres, Chinese – 2 acres and Mohammedans – 2 acres. A block of 15.5 acres was reserved for those professing no particular religion.

Karrakatta opened for burials in 1899. The first person to be interred in the Anglican portion of the ground was Robert Creighton of Waroona. Mr DJ Chipper conducted the funeral arrangements.

Over the years the Cemetery Gardens were much admired by all who visited. In 1924 the Sunday Times reported “a splendid show of seasonal flowers” and neat, well stocked flower beds and boarders. Among the many varieties of flowers that made a gay show, carnations, columbine, roses, fuchsias, larkspur and delphinium. On either side of the main drive were fine specimens of palms and ornamental trees.

In 1936, 55,500 people were “sleeping their last sleep in this God’s acre” at Karrakatta. Including activist and politician, Edith Cowan (1861-1932) and Lord John Forrest (1847-1918) the first Premier of Western Australia.

The first cremation took place on 30 November 1937 ”in special circumstances”, a few days before the crematorium was blessed and dedicated by the Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Perth Dr Le Fanu.

30 photos sleeping their last sleep from: fb State Library of Western Australia

Walks

People – LifeTree

Karrakatta Historical Walk Trail One

Edith Dircksey (Brown) Cowan OBE (1861 - 1932) activist and politician Profile 2.

Karrakatta Historical Walk Trail Two

Richard John Anketell (1862 - 1928), surveyor Profile 15.

Martin O'Meara VC (1885 - 1935) war hero Profile 24.

John Joseph “Jack” Simons, (1883-1948) founder of the Young Australia League and newspaper owner Profile # 35.

East Perth Cemeteries were Perth’s first official burial grounds, and operated between 1830 and 1899. more . . Heritage . .

East Perth Cemetery : a list of Names