Explore stories of life and death with a new audio trail at East Perth Cemeteries

From the murder of Rosalinda Fox near Gallop House in Dalkeith to the treatment of early Chinese migrants and heartbreaking tales of infant mortality, East Perth Cemeteries hold thousands of stories from Perth’s past. Now visitors and passers-by can hear a selection of these intriguing tales.

Thanks to funding from Lotterywest, the National Trust has developed a series of engaging audio stories focusing on some of the people, colonial histories and mysteries connected with East Perth Cemeteries.

New signs along the boundary fence include QR codes that, when scanned with a phone or device, play a short audio story.

Hear a special Welcome to Country from Whadjuk Noongar Elder Barry Maguire, follow fifth-generation Western Australian Mike Lefroy as he explores some of the Cemeteries’ best known inhabitants, and discover the now lost Chinese Cemetery in both English and Chinese.

The QR codes can be accessed at any time. For a full experience, the Cemeteries are open to the public every Sunday from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. Originally located on the edge of the town, today the Cemeteries are a tranquil haven within the bustling inner-city East Perth, perfect for a Sunday stroll.

Take a wander through this special heritage place, reflect on loved ones lost and appreciate the wealth of stories it has to offer. Volunteers on site are incredibly knowledgeable and can help you search the extensive database of burials and locate graves. Book your next visit online.

The audio trail was developed in partnership with Creative Spaces and creative producer Pip Kelly.

Perth’s first colonial burial ground

East Perth Cemeteries sits on Whadjuk Noongar Country in an area known as Martellup, on a sandy hill overlooking Western Australia’s capital city. In 1829 this was the site of the first colonial burial ground in Perth when a general cemetery was established. This was followed by six more of different denominations, plus one for felons, until the closure of the eight cemeteries in 1899.

More than 10,000 people who died in colonial Perth are buried here, from the wealthy and prominent to the poor and unknown.

Since the closure of the Cemeteries, the majority of the grave headstones and markers have been lost through decay, neglect, vandalism, and well-intentioned ‘cleanups’. The remaining 800 however, now cared for by the National Trust, offer a unique opportunity to tell and explore stories of bravery, tragedy, illness and accident, of success, suffering and loved ones lost.

Getting there

Public Transport

Catch the Free Yellow CAT bus to stop 6 or 32. Check the timetable on the Transperth website for further details.

Parking

There are plenty of parking options with metered street parking on Bronte and Wittenoom Streets, and ticketed parking in the Queens Gardens carpark. Check the City of Perth Parking website for further details.