caution

signpost

watch

Duration

Distance

Level

### The landscape that existed prior to European settlement, before the establishment of dwellings and before it was farmed, was remarkably different. This diverse environment once supported a population of native mammals, birds and reptiles that would even amaze most present-day Adelaideans.

The Adelaide Plains have changed dramatically since the arrival of the first European settlers in South Australia. What was once a picturesque mosaic of grasslands and grassy woodlands has almost been lost to urban development. Despite extensive clearing, a few isolated patches remain. 

Like the Adelaide Plains, West Terrace Cemetery’s landscape has varied during its history, evolving and changing. Today, the cemetery provides a refuge for more than 20 rare and endangered flora, from the obvious to the almost invisible. Collectively this native vegetation offers a snapshot of the plant communities once common in this part of Adelaide.

The cemetery is also home to many exotic species, reflecting cemetery planting practices and fashions over time—mainly cypresses, pines, elms, olives and palms. Thousands of heritage bulbs also sit beneath the ground and produce a colourful display during winter and spring. 

The Natural Heritage interpretive trail will introduce you to a diverse selection of trees, shrubs, climbers, ground covers and grasses that continue to flourish in these fertile soils. These plants, both native and exotic, contribute to the cultural identity and unique character of the cemetery. Some even have special meanings.

Natural Heritage Self-Guided Tour

The nearby grove of Quandongs is more than just a few small trees – it is one of the last remaining examples of fruiting Quandongs in Adelaide.

Quandongs are small, semi-parasitic trees that tolerate a variety of soils and climates. They grow between two and five metres and are characterised by their pale green leaves and bright red fruit that has a single stone (kernel) encasing a large seed. 

To survive, this tree extracts nutrients from the roots of host plants, such as wattles. Most young seedlings you see here are suckers. They have sprouted from the roots of an older Quandong and therefore do not need a new host. Should they germinate from seed, young plants will initially use grasses and groundcovers as hosts before finding a tree or shrub as their long-term host. 

While these trees are important for many types of wildlife, the rare Wood White Butterfly relies on the Quandong as a host plant for its caterpillar.

Quandongs have twice the Vitamin C of oranges and were important to Aboriginal people who ate the fruit and the kernel. Early settlers used the fruit for jams, pies, and sauces.

A Grove Amongst the Graves

How to Use This Guide

> **Look closer:** Eucalypt leaves will often have small white round domes on the leaves made from the sugar secretions of psyllids. The hard substance was eaten by many Aboriginal groups.

\-

## Old Folk of the Woodlands

The Mallee Woodlands of Adelaide once teemed with flora and fauna such as kangaroos, emus, wombats, bettongs and hundreds of varieties of wildflowers. These old trees provide a window into the past.
Eucalypts are a diverse group of plants that range in colours, sizes, and textures with over 800 in Australia and approximately 100 occurring in South Australia. Key characteristics of eucalypts include texture of bark, shape and size of gum nuts and number of buds or flowers in a cluster.
The Mallee Box grows between four and 10 metres and can either be multi-stemmed or single-trunked. It has rough bark that gets smoother throughout the branches and has small white flowers in clusters of seven.
As with most eucalypts, the Mallee Box forms tree hollows critical for the survival of many birds and mammals. Hollow-dependent species here include the Crimson Rosella, Southern Boobook Owl, micro bats and the Brush-tailed Possum. Hollows can take over 100 years to form, making these few remaining trees important for habitat.
Aboriginal people used the wood, bark, roots, leaves, and flowers of eucalypts for many purposes including firewood, food, and medicinally.

## Hidden Jewels of the Woodlands

Native Oxalis (Oxalis perennans), Wingless Blue-bush (Maireana enchylaenoides), Australian Bindweed (Convolvulus species)

Seasonal wildflowers and delicate inconspicuous plants once thrived in the flat, fertile soils of the Mallee Woodlands. There are a few hidden survivors.
Woodlands are characterised by trees that range from 10 to 30 metres apart containing a diversity of grasses, seasonal wildflowers and inconspicuous plants. Woodlands were frequently cleared for grazing, development and agriculture. What you see in front of you contains one of the last remaining examples of Mallee Box Woodlands in Adelaide.
Some of the plants that remain include Australian Bindweed, Wingless Blue-bush, and Native Oxalis. The ankle high Native Oxalis is our native version of the larger common garden soursob, which occurs here.
The Australian Bindweed, often difficult to see if not flowering, is a twining perennial plant with pink flowers that bloom in early summer. Its seeds are sought after by beetles and ants.  The Wingless Blue-bush is a shin-high, grey-green shrub. Its seeds are favoured by parrots, honeyeaters, silvereyes, and skinks.
Many plants in woodland ecosystems were used widely by Aboriginal people. Tubers, seeds, bark, and flowers were used as food sources and provided medicinal qualities.

Woodlands

## **As Adelaide’s main public cemetery for almost 100 years, people from all walks of life were buried at West Terrace Cemetery, bringing together the many threads of South Australia’s rich heritage in one place.**

West Terrace Cemetery dates back to the foundation of South Australia. It was established in 1837 on land set aside in Colonel William Light’s original plan for the City of Adelaide. Since then, more than 150,000 burials have taken place.

The cemetery is renowned for its ornate monuments, historic burial sites and some of the last remaining indigenous vegetation of the Adelaide Plain. It is also the site of Australia’s first dedicated military burial ground and for 22 years contained the country’s only crematorium.

In recognition of the cemetery’s historic value, it was listed as a Place of State Heritage Significance in November 1989.

The first recorded interment occurred in 1840 when formal cemetery records commenced. It is estimated that more than 500 burials occurred prior to this.

## The Constant Threat of Closure

For much of its early history, West Terrace Cemetery provoked considerable public and religious debate. There were frequent controversies, accusations of mismanagement and threats of closure.

Many of Adelaide’s early citizens objected on public health grounds to having a cemetery so close to the city. People were quick to blame it for any outbreak of disease or foul odour emanating from the city’s south-west.

As early as the 1880s, West Terrace Cemetery was considered too small to keep up with the demands of a growing population. Several alternative sites for a new cemetery were put forward, but no agreement was reached.

Prior to 1861 there was no systematic approach to burials and record keeping. The cemetery’s burials prior to 1840 were not accurately recorded and remain unknown.

Defending themselves from the backlash, early cemetery sextons complained they were deprived of the resources needed to run the cemetery properly.

## Denominational Division

The distinctive denominational division of West Terrace Cemetery began in 1843, when a separate area was granted to the Jewish community. Over time, exclusive sections for Catholics, Quakers, Mohammedan/Afghan and Syrian Druses have been allocated.

The cemetery’s division reflected the wishes of certain religious groups to manage their own affairs. But it saddled the cemetery with the issue of divided management, and attracted opposition from those religious groups against the introduction of an established Church to the Colony.

## Monumentation & Symbolism

The remarkable diversity of monuments at West Terrace Cemetery reflects heavily the prevailing beliefs, attitudes and traditions of nineteenth century society. They also serve as a document of the social, cultural and demographic changes in South Australia.

As attitudes toward death and burial changed so did monumental design, giving way to larger, more complex monuments. Such grand and imposing headstones were mainly confined to the prominent and wealthy, while those unable to pay for a funeral suffered the anonymity of an unmarked grave.

## Natural Heritage

West Terrace Cemetery has provided a refuge for more than 20 rare and endangered native plant species that have long been cleared from the Parklands and Adelaide Plain. These include:

•         Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)

•         Mallee Box (Eucalyptus porosa)

•         Native Apricot (Pittosporum phylliraeoides)

•         Umbrella Wattle (Acacia ligulata)

·         Black-Anther Flax-Lily (Dianella revoluta)

•         Berry Saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata)

The remnant vegetation is an important part of South Australia’s biodiversity, with seed collection programs conducted by various institutions to re-introduce these species to their original habitat.

There are also many introduced species, reflecting different cemetery planting practices and fashions over time – mainly cypresses, pines, elms, olives and palms.

## A Brief History of West Terrace Cemetery

**1837**

Surveyor-General, Colonel William Light and his survey team planned the City of Adelaide; 32 acres on the south-western fringe are allocated for a cemetery. John Monck was appointed the cemetery’s first sexton by Colonial Chaplin Charles Beaumont Howard (1807-1843).

**1839**

A Board of Trustees is appointed to oversee the cemetery’s management.

**1843**

A Jewish section is established. This is the first of the cemetery’s denominational divisions.

**1845**

A Catholic Cemetery is established on land adjacent to the northern boundary of the main public cemetery. It had its own entrance and was initially fenced off from the original cemetery.

**1854**

Captain Arthur Henry Freeling, Surveyor-General (1849-1861), set out a plan for the cemetery’s main roads and paths, bringing order to the cemetery and forming the layout we see today.

**1871**

Smyth Memorial Chapel is built as a memorial to the Very Reverend Father John Smyth.

**1903**

Australia’s first purpose-built crematorium is opened.

**1904**

The unused northeastern portion of the cemetery is returned to parkland in exchange for 20 acres to the west of the original cemetery site, taking the western border of the cemetery as far as the railway line. This is the most significant change to the size and layout of the cemetery.

**1920**

Australia’s first dedicated military burial ground, the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) Cemetery is established.

**1959**

The Adelaide Crematorium ceases operations

**1976**

The West Terrace Cemetery Act brings the whole cemetery under Government control. Prior to this, sections of the cemetery were administered by the various religious denominations.

**1979**

Plans were approved to convert West Terrace Cemetery back to a memorial park, returning the area to parkland. New plantings commenced as early as 1976. This plan was abandoned and the cemetery continues to operate.

**1996**

The Baby Memorial is unveiled to mark the burial of stillborn and infant babies buried from the 1920s to the 1980s.

**2010**

The Caroline Clark Memorial Garden is created to commemorate the lives of those buried in unmarked graves.

The Wakefield section, the first area of unused land to be developed for burial since 1944, is released.

**2019**

The Smyth Chapel undergoes extensive refurbishment

**2020**

The Promenade, the last remaining area of unused land within the cemetery, was developed and opened. Adjacent the Curators Cottage, this area previously housed a toilet block and chicken shed.

Main Entrance

> **Look closer:** Wattle has graced Australia’s Coat of Arms for more than 100 years and in 1988 the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) was officially gazetted as Australia’s national floral emblem.

\-

From late winter to early spring, wattles come alive with a spectacular display of golden yellow flowers that exude a strong floral scent. Birds and insects become very busy feeding on the pollen – but that is not the only role that wattles play here.
If you look closely at a wattle seed you may notice it has a small attachment. This is called the aril. Arils are sought after by ants that will often take the seed underground, which assists in germination. The wattles here are also important for the caterpillar of the Two-spotted Line-blue butterfly which feeds on the mature yellow buds.
Wattles have broad uses across Australia by Aboriginal people. The seeds of many species were roasted, eaten raw, and often made into dough. The gum from some species was eaten and the wood used for burning and making tools. Some parts of the wattle had medicinal uses. Wattle seed contains a much higher level of protein than wheat and is often used in bread, biscuits, pancakes, and as flavour for ice cream or as a coffee substitute.

Splashes of Yellow

> **Look closer:** Like the remnant native species, exotic plantings are also protected under the cemetery’s State Heritage listing.

\-

Over the summer months, the grounds within the West Terrace Cemetery are bare and dry. Lying dormant beneath the surface are bulbs waiting for the winter rains and warm sunny days of spring to come alive with colour, fill the air with varied fragrances, and remind of us of the rich symbolism that exists here.

Flowers like the ones you will encounter here have featured in cemeteries around the world for hundreds of years, serving as symbols of remembrance.

Egyptians were the first to use flowers in funerary customs as they believed their scent was linked to divine powers. Since Victorian times flower symbolism has become a defining feature of most cemeteries.

Flowers that occur here include Daffodils, Peruvian Lilies and Freesias. The blue and white Peruvian Lilies flower from July through to September and symbolise long-lasting friendship and devotion. Daffodils, also known as Jonquils, have been planted in cemeteries for many centuries, vary in colour and have a strong floral scent. Daffodils carry two distinct attributes of symbolism: rebirth and resurrection; and vanity and self-love.

Spring Symbolism

Tread Lightly

The West Terrace Cemetery is one of the oldest operating cemeteries in Australia, dating back to 1837. Among the 150,000 souls buried here is a rich natural character defined by native and introduced trees, shrubs, groundcovers and colourful flowers.
Many of the large trees you see were planted in the 1970s following a decision to close West Terrace Cemetery and convert it to open parkland. This decision was short-lived and the Cemetery is now protected by State Heritage Listing. While the intention of the plantings was well meaning, the selection of species was not carefully considered for their size and consequent impact on graves. They nonetheless form an important part of the Cemetery’s natural character.
Trees here include the large Aleppo Pine defined by a dense canopy, small cones, and strongly scented wood; the South Australian Blue Gum defined by its white trunk and reddish pink flowers; and the Norfolk Island Hibiscus defined by its large pink flowers and seed pods. These native and introduced species provides shade and seasonal floral displays for us, as well as habitat for local wildlife.