National Trust of Australia (WA) Education & Learning

EAST PERTH CEMETERIES
Bronte St, East Perth

When Governor Stirling arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1829, one of his first acts was to set aside land for public needs including the practical requirement of a cemetery. In November 1829, land was allocated for public burial grounds on what became known as Cemetery Hill. Today this is a part of East Perth.

East Perth Cemeteries are significant today because they were the main burial grounds for the Swan River Colony from 1829 to the end of the 19th century. The site is a remnant of what originally comprised seven independently owned and managed cemeteries. It has been estimated that there were 10,000 burials in the East Perth Cemeteries. To date some 800 graves have been identified.

Visiting East Perth Cemeteries can bring to life the experience of death in the early days of the settlement of Western Australia.

Please note that there are NO Public Toilets at East Perth Cemeteries. Bronte Street has pay parking. There is a free bus bay outside the main gate.

READING ROCKS

INVESTIGATING EAST PERTH CEMETERIES

ADOPT–A-GRAVE a Community Service Program

Teachers of S&E for years 8 to 12 should contact the National Trust to discuss curriculum specific needs.

Bookings essential. Please allow approximately 2 hours for your visit.

Teaching resources are available.

Cost: $3.50 per head includes $2 entry to East Perth Cemeteries. Accompanying adults free of charge.
(National Trust member schools receive free entry to all National Trust places)

To make a booking or for further enquiries contact The National Trust of Australia (WA)
Phone: 9321 6088
Email: trust@ntwa.com.au

INSURANCE, EXCURSION MANAGEMENT & EVACUATION PLAN

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READING ROCKS
suitable for years 3 to 7

Reading gravestones can give us a great deal of information about specific periods of history.
At East Perth Cemeteries, experienced guides will give a talk about the history of Perth and the Cemetery site at the beginning of the settlement of the Swan River Colony followed by a tour of the Cemeteries.
Students then use the Reading Rocks Trail workbook to discover more about the people buried there.
Download a pdf Trail .

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INVESTIGATING EAST PERTH CEMETERIES
suitable for years 6 to 10

Under the direction of experienced guides, students are introduced to the historical and heritage significance of this site and St Bartholomews Chapel. They are given time to explore the cemeteries. Resources are available for students to continue their introduction to one of Australia's last remaining Colonial Cemeteries.

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ADOPT–A-GRAVE a Community Service Program
for students in years 10 to 12

‘Adopt-A-Grave’ brings together the skills of research and website technology with gardening and maintenance.

Students taking part in the program are given the opportunity to research and interpret an important period and theme of local history and are empowered to present this information in a meaningful way to their peers and others.

They are introduced to East Perth Cemeteries by experts, trained in maintenance of heritage places by curatorial and heritage staff, taught research skills at the State Library of WA and finally create web site information pages at school that are made available to the public through the National Trust website.

Link to the Community Service page

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Public Events

Competitions

* Christmas in the Swan River Colony bring your class to Tranby to celebrate an 1840 Christmas

* The Harpers, The ANZACS, Lest We Forget presentation at Woodbridge

* Check out the Photo and Story competition

* Free Professional Learning