In March 2022, redevelopment commenced in the Anglican ZO section of Karrakatta Cemetery. The majority of headstones were removed, making way for new graves as part of the ongoing redevelopment program — also known as “Cemetery Renewal”.
This area is rich with history, having been established in the 1930s and being the last resting place of more than 1000 Western Australians — including our pioneers and war heroes.
Anglican ZO before redevelopment.
In February 2019, a member of the public contacted the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) for information about the redevelopment process. The MCB responded:
The Cemetery Renewal schedule was reviewed in November last year and Anglican ZO was added to the schedule. It is the MCB’s intention to renew the area within the next five years. However, this will not affect existing monuments which will remain in situ. You may be aware that Anglican ZO has large areas with no monuments. The MCB’s intention is to create new graves in these parts of Anglican ZO only, therefore, there will be no need to relocate existing monuments (emphasis added).
This statement was taken as a guarantee that all headstones would be preserved. But, in typical MCB fashion, this was just another false promise designed to mislead the public about redevelopment.
The true result was the mass clearance of a cherished burial area and the desecration of our loved ones’ memories.
The majority of headstones were removed, despite the MCB promising they would be retained.
If the upturning of headstones wasn’t sickening enough, just take a look at how the graves have been treated throughout the redevelopment — driven over by excavators.
The MCB claims that “Cemetery Renewal” is respectful and dignified — but this is not the case at all. There is nothing but devastation at Karrakatta, and our loved ones are not being allowed to rest in peace.
The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board must be held accountable for its deceit and destruction.
Please help us stop this deplorable process. Visit the “Join & Contact” page for more information.
I think that the redevelopment at Karrakatta Cemetery is a Disgrace and it should not be Happening.