Fremantle Cemetery

Fremantle Cemetery is a cemetery located in the eastern part (Palmyra) of Fremantle, Western Australia. Established in 1898, it is known as the final resting place of Bon Scott, several murderers and dozens of other notable Australians. There have been over 60,000 cremations and over 40,000 burials there. The grave of Scott, the AC/DC singer, has been said to be the most visited grave in Australia.

History

Fremantle cemetery is a 46 hectare cemetery which dates back to 1898. It is the third public cemetery in Fremantle. The first was in Alma Street and this closed in 1855 and is now a primary school. The second cemetery at Skinner Street started in 1852 and was operating until 1899 when this cemetery was already open. Burials were removed by families from earlier cemeteries to here including Mary Anne Morrell who died in 1832. This is one of the oldest gravestones and was removed from Alma Street to here by her family in 1915. In 1830 ninety other gravestones were moved from Skinner Street to here. The Skinner Street cemetery is now the location of the Oval belonging to the John Curtin College of the Arts where it is estimated 200 bodies still remain. Over 40,000 burials have taken place at this cemetery.

For its first sixty years the cemetery was dedicated to burials but in 1959 a crematorium was opened here which allowed an alternative to those who preferred this type of funeral. Over 66,000 cremations have taken place here.

Description

The cemetery describes itself as using limestone a lot in its buildings which reflects the town convict built architecture. The cemetery is on the corner of Carrington Street and Leach Highway.