Kanowna Cemetery a grave condition.

Last week you may have read a shjort blog post on the Kanowna Cemetery. In this story I included a newspaper article from tnhe 1920’s which complained of the deplorable condition of ‘Gods Acre’ at Kanowna.

For this article I decided to take a trip out there and to take some ‘now’ photos of some of the graves for which I had photos taken in the 1990’s. I have always known that this particular cemetery (this is the second Kanowan cemetery on Yarri Rd) was in a sad condition for lots of reasons. However on this trip I saw that sadly there was rubbish everywhere in the cemetery its self which would have blown in from the overflowing rubbish bins in the carpark. The next and perhaps the most damamging thing, was the fencing on one side had collapsed and the cattle had got in. Now cows are very itchy animals and they like nothing better that a nice headstone to scratch against. This was also a big problem with the graves at Bardoc which were recently restored and protected.

On my return I was talking to my husband about how awful it was and he said something like ‘You have been saying this sort of thing about Kanowna for years, why dont you do the same as at Bardoc.  So ‘challenge accepted’ I intend to try my very best to do that. Should you be interested I have ste up a Facebook page which you can join to keep up with progress (or lack of) at:

Kanowna Cemetery Friends

A rough plan of action:

Stage 1

1. Contact the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for permission.
2. Do a rubbish pick up.
3. Source funding for a secure fence around the whole cemetery.
4. Work on the records of those buried there (ongoing)
5. Advertise for any relatives of those buried.

Stage 2

1. Get quotes from Kalgoorlie Monumental Works for graves that need preservation.
2. Source funding for the restoration of each grave if needed.
3. Partially clear vegetation around each grave.
4. New information sign board with denominational details and historic info
   (no names on this one).

As we go along I hope to share with you via this blog and the Facebook page, stories of the people buried here so close to Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The following is the article that the Kalgoorlie Miner published this week if you haven’t seen it.

Kalgoorlie Miner 5 May 2020

And here is a one such story of a young man who lost his life.

CALLAGHAN Thomas, 25yrs, d 16 June 1899, at house on 6 Mile Road, Occ: Miner, Cause: Strangulated Hernia, Born Melbourne VIC in 1874, In VIC 20yrs, In WA 5yrs, Single, Father Thomas CALLAGHAN (Condenser),  Mother: Mary O’CONNALL, He had five brothers and eight sisters.
Bur 17 Jun 1899, Death Registered by father, Death Certified by Patrick TROY (Coroner), Reg 31/1899 North East Coolgardie, Buried Kanowna Cemetery.

CALLAGHAN Thomas Evening Star 16 Jun 1899

Kalgoorlie Miner 19 June 1899, page 4

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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