Willaston Cemetery
Willaston Cemetery situated at Dawkins Avenue, Willaston, was opened on 1 August 1866. It was one of the first large public cemeteries to be established after the passing of the Regulation of Cemeteries Act in 1862. It reflects contemporary social attitudes towards the location, management and layout of cemeteries in the mid-19th century. It is noted for its high quality monuments and outstanding collection of cast-iron work associated with Gawler’s role as an industrial centre.
The first burial occurred on 18 November, 1866 and was that of Mrs Sarah Woodward Clement, aged 35 years, first wife of Edward Clement, Gawler Councillor and Mayor. The funeral was attended by a reported 700 people, some of whom would have been transported in the sixty vehicles that followed the hearse. The Bunyip described the cemetery at this time as a pretty place, securely fenced with an iron gate at the entrance and turnstiles on either side for pedestrians.
The Gawler Heritage Study of 1998 recommended that Willaston Cemetery be State Heritage Listed. The cemetery was described as an ‘exceptionally fine South Australian cemetery’ featuring ‘significant iron-work and monuments; contains rare species of native flora; has significant historical associations; and commemorates many significant South Australians’.
The cemetery was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the South Australian Heritage Register on 8 November, 2001.
For a list of all interments having headstones - 500 pages in alphabetical order of surname - Click Here. Also stored at the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre, microfiche of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
At the entry to the Willaston Cemetery are headstones taken from Pioneer Park.
Inquiries to Town of Gawler 08 85229211
43 High Street, Gawler East SA 5118
Email: council@gawler.sa.gov.au
Interactive Map
For mobile users, please use this map.
- Cemetery Block 1 (1.74 MB)
- Cemetery Block 2 (1.75 MB)
- Cemetery Block 3 (1.27 MB)
- Cemetery Block 4 (1.33 MB)
- Cemetery Rose Garden (1.95 MB)