Old Busselton Cemetery Project

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Background and update

Over the last three years, the City has been investigating the names of the people buried in the Old Busselton Cemetery. This number has grown from 250 to just under 1,000. The names have been cross checked in several ways:

  • A comprehensive list through the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on line search platform
  • Burial books from Faulkingham Funeral Directors, ancestors of the late Mrs Annie Faithfull
  • Access to St Mary’s Burial Registers from 1841 - 1935 courtesy of the State Library
  • Busselton Family History Group researchers and online lists
  • Busselton Historical Society research and lists
  • Respondents to two sets of community feedback
  • Past lists compiled by:
    • Pat Snowdon and Anne Malarki (1966)
    • Marie Pavey and Leeanne Riordan (1996)
  • Busselton Cemetery database of early records
  • Find a Grave website
  • Local Historical Society members who have an interest in cemeteries:
    • Augusta
    • Margaret River
    • Karridale
  • Capel Districts Cemeteries Project

With the earlier records (before 1900), there have often been differences that needed to be considered and a best informed guess made. The reasons include:

  • Illegible handwriting of names and dates resulting in differences in several platforms
  • Spellings differing across platforms and documents
  • Dates might be burial dates instead of dates of death
  • There are infants that may have been buried in the cemetery and some buried elsewhere and these have been included where it seems logical that they may be buried in the cemetery. If not, they are included in a list “Maybe buried in the cemetery or in the district”.
  • A separate list identifies people included in the cemetery after it was closed. They were
    • buried in a family plot and have a headstone
    • were not buried in the cemetery and have a memorial plaque or headstone.
    • One person who was reinterred in Scotland

The list will soon be set in stone on new granite plaques on the outside walls of the Old Busselton Cemetery. The City will maintain a database of information of the people buried in the cemetery, that includes the research that has been found.

A final list is now available for you to view. Descendants of Aboriginal and pioneering families, interested history buffs and the wider community are asked to please review the updated list, taking note of names and dates included. If you believe something may be incorrect, please email Jacquie Happ jacquie.happ@busselton.wa.gov.au.

The updated list of burial names can be found under 'Documents' on the right-hand side.

Consultation closes 4pm 7 May 2025.

Background and update

Over the last three years, the City has been investigating the names of the people buried in the Old Busselton Cemetery. This number has grown from 250 to just under 1,000. The names have been cross checked in several ways:

  • A comprehensive list through the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on line search platform
  • Burial books from Faulkingham Funeral Directors, ancestors of the late Mrs Annie Faithfull
  • Access to St Mary’s Burial Registers from 1841 - 1935 courtesy of the State Library
  • Busselton Family History Group researchers and online lists
  • Busselton Historical Society research and lists
  • Respondents to two sets of community feedback
  • Past lists compiled by:
    • Pat Snowdon and Anne Malarki (1966)
    • Marie Pavey and Leeanne Riordan (1996)
  • Busselton Cemetery database of early records
  • Find a Grave website
  • Local Historical Society members who have an interest in cemeteries:
    • Augusta
    • Margaret River
    • Karridale
  • Capel Districts Cemeteries Project

With the earlier records (before 1900), there have often been differences that needed to be considered and a best informed guess made. The reasons include:

  • Illegible handwriting of names and dates resulting in differences in several platforms
  • Spellings differing across platforms and documents
  • Dates might be burial dates instead of dates of death
  • There are infants that may have been buried in the cemetery and some buried elsewhere and these have been included where it seems logical that they may be buried in the cemetery. If not, they are included in a list “Maybe buried in the cemetery or in the district”.
  • A separate list identifies people included in the cemetery after it was closed. They were
    • buried in a family plot and have a headstone
    • were not buried in the cemetery and have a memorial plaque or headstone.
    • One person who was reinterred in Scotland

The list will soon be set in stone on new granite plaques on the outside walls of the Old Busselton Cemetery. The City will maintain a database of information of the people buried in the cemetery, that includes the research that has been found.

A final list is now available for you to view. Descendants of Aboriginal and pioneering families, interested history buffs and the wider community are asked to please review the updated list, taking note of names and dates included. If you believe something may be incorrect, please email Jacquie Happ jacquie.happ@busselton.wa.gov.au.

The updated list of burial names can be found under 'Documents' on the right-hand side.

Consultation closes 4pm 7 May 2025.

  • Project Background

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    Project Overview:

    Have you ever wandered past the Old Busselton Cemetery (Pioneer Cemetery) and wondered about its origins? Perhaps you have a relative buried there?

    The Old Busselton Cemetery, located between Marine Terrace and Adelaide Street, was established in 1847 and formally gazetted in 1856. Many of the districts prominent families are buried there. The first recorded burial was Mr Patrick Hurley in 1858 and there are over 250 recorded burials - although 550 individuals have records associated with the cemetery. Burials ceased at the cemetery in the 1930’s.

    Since 2009, significant progress has been made to conserve the cemetery in collaboration with the community. The grave sites have been cleared, overgrown vegetation removed and interpretive signage on the cemetery’s history installed. Some sites have additional information about individuals who are buried there. A map was also created to make it easier for visitors to identify where the gravesites are.

    The next stage of the plan is to install new name tablets, as some of the current ones have incorrect dates and names misspelt.

    Updating name tablets:

    Over the last 12 months the City has been gathering names and information about the people who were buried in the Old Busselton Cemetery. Working with a group of volunteers and community groups, the number of people who have most likely been buried in the cemetery has grown. Initial records lists approximately 250 burials (as listed in the State Heritage Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation), during this process this number grew to over 1,000.

  • Project Update- December 2024

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    The City is pleased with the many responses from families and friends of those buried in the Old Busselton Cemetery. These responses have helped confirm details and share interesting stories about the deceased.

    The list of names has grown from about 250 to over 1000. There are still over 160 names that need verification, so the work continues. We thank all contributors, questioners, and the historical groups in the district, including the Busselton Historical Society, Dunsborough Historical Society, Busselton Family History Group, Capel District Cemeteries Project, Augusta Historical Society, and Margaret River Historical Society.

    It's surprising how many people were buried in the small cemetery. In the past, people were often buried on top of each other. There’s even a story about a grave digger who had to try five times to find a new spot! (Source: Busselton Family History Society - Cemeteries 01)

    The City plans to install new plaques with the names of those buried there, listed alphabetically, in the new year.

  • Project Update - November 2023

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    Thank you to everyone who submitted their family information for the Old Busselton Cemetery project. We received an overwhelming amount of information, with over 150 names submitted, and your input has helped us identify 35 names that are not currently on the cemetery’s name tablets.

    Our Cultural Development Officer will now undertake extensive research to verify the names submitted. Further updates on this project will be provided in the New Year via this project page.

    If you missed out on making a submission, email jacquie.happ@busselton.wa.gov.au

Page last updated: 24 Apr 2025, 05:02 PM