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Lonely Graves in Western Australia
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During many years of travelling the bush, I have come across the sad and lonely graves of many people. I am left pondering the tragedy that resulted in a burial in these often extremley isolated places, and I am continually amazed at the dedication displayed by those who made the effort to erect a monument. For me this dedication is epitomised by the headstone for Fred Savory at Burrumbar. Fred died in 1901 and the headstone was erected by "his faithful mate" Bob Towers. When I first went to this site around 2000, it was hard to locate and we had GPS, air con in 4WD vehicles and cold beer in the fridge, a vast difference to the conditions in 1901. It is this "mateship" that is hard to define but is none the less an intergal part of being Australian.
The link below will take you to a collection of photos taken of lonely graves in the bush. It represents a very small number of those that are scattered throughout the whole state. Many have fallen into disrepair and hundreds have vanished altogether. Yet others have been restored in memory of those that perished and each one has a tale to tell, if only it could be told.
It is important that these be recorded, if only for the completeness of history.
(The link above will take you to Picasa online photos.)
These are images of graves that are not in a formal cemetery but are simply in the bush near where the departed was found.
Some photos and a story on lonely graves scattered around WA in the bush.
Online Data
I have collected a few details about some graves of people buried in more formal cemeteries around the place. This is by no means complete and is only as accurate as what records have been uncovered, or headstones that remain. There are photos in the picasa online album that can be found by accessing the Lonely Graves link.
The Balla Balla Cemetery is about 18km from Whim Creek towards the coast on the old Balla Balla Road. It is a bit hard to spot, as it is overgrown.
This is the pioneer cemetery near the beach. This link goes directly to the images.
The Condon cemetery is located near the old town of Condon in the Pilbara. It is unmarked and unfenced an not generally visible at a casual glance.
Davyhurst CemeteryThis cemetery is located on the "Island" at Lake Austin, just south of the old railway station.
Located on Nallan Station about 5km from the Great Northern Highway, just north of CueThis cemetery is located near the old township of Nannine, just south of Meekathara. There is a turn off for the cemetery just south of the old town turn off on the main road to Perth. There are many graves there, but many are unmarked.
Located outside of Cue
The Whim Creek cemetery is on the Northern Side of the highway opposite the Whim Creek turn off.