City of Busselton Council has announced the completion of new granite plaques at the Old Busselton Cemetery.
The cemetery holds significant cultural heritage value as the final resting place of many early European settlers of the region and members of families prominent in the early history of Western Australia.
Over the past three years, the City has worked closely with State Records and Department of Justice (Births, Deaths and Marriages) to research and confirm the names of people buried at the cemetery.
Records prior to the 1900s were not complete. Through extensive community and industry consultation, the Old Busselton Cemetery Project brought together local and state historians, community representatives, to correct and expand historical records.
As a result, the project identified an additional 750 individuals, increasing the known number of burials from 250 to nearly 1,000. The information was verified, where possible, through state and local registries, burial books, historical research and early cemetery records.
The first burial appears to have been that of Alfred Thomas Smith in 1864, although the cemetery was discussed much earlier in the 1800s. Prior to this cemetery, many of the European settlers were buried at St Mary’s Anglican Church.
The City continues to work in partnership with community members to ensure strong heritage outcomes and lasting respect for this important historical site, said Mayor, Phill Cronin.
“The City would particularly like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment made by the late Annie Faithfull,” said the Mayor.
“Annie’s family were funeral directors during the time the cemetery was operational. She worked with the City to clear grave sites and remove overgrown vegetation. Annie was instrumental in creating interpretive signage about the cemetery’s history and the people buried there.
“A map was also developed to help visitors more easily locate gravesites. Annie’s husband, Barry Faithfull, and daughter, Jodie Goss, continue to honour her legacy and treasure the memory of her deep passion for preserving the history of the cemetery.
“It’s wonderful to see the cemetery revitalised and the City’s history preserved. The community is very fortunate to have incredible people so invested in our rich heritage. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, knowledge and expertise to this important project,” he said.
