Guidelines for Cemetery Conservation - National Trust of Australia

GUIDELINES FOR CEMETERY CONSERVATION
PART ONE - WHY
Part One - WHY
1 Why conserve cemeteries?
A cemetery is not merely a functional place for disposal of the dead. It also serves a
community’s emotional, religious and cultural needs.
As an expression of people’s culture and identity, cemeteries comprise a fascinating
resource which allow the community to delve back into their past. The monuments
and graves represent the last public memorials of many people, both famous and
unknown, who were intimately involved with the growth of the local area in which
they are buried. In this way the headstones themselves, through the names,
occupations, dates and epitaphs, provide a largely unique social, literary and
economic record of the district. The monuments also demonstrate the art of the
stonemason whose skill and craftsmanship is not likely to be repeated.
But it is not just the headstones which are important in cemetery landscapes. Many
rural cemeteries contain important botanical species which are endangered.
Cemeteries have long been recognised as repositories for heritage roses and it is being
increasingly recognised that they also harbour and protect native vegetation. Along
with the vegetation, cemeteries are also a haven for wildlife generally.
FOR ALL THESE REASONS, THE CONSERVATION OF CEMETERIES IS
ESSENTIAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF AUSTRALIA’S LOCAL HISTORY,
REGIONAL HISTORY AND NATIONAL HISTORY.
2 Why plan conservation?
In contributing to a cemetery’s heritage significance, any or all of its aspects can be
important. For that reason, the conservation of any part of it – even a single grave –
must be carefully planned and controlled to ensure that other aspects are not
diminished in the process.
Experience shows that a simplistic approach to conservation, such as “let’s just clean
it up” often does more harm than good. Replacing an old headstone not only discards
the historic original, it often destroys the sense of age which is half the reason for its
value. Poisoning the weeds can destroy historic plantings of rare garden flowers
which happen not to be in bloom. Removing a tree because its roots might tilt a
monument may be quite unnecessary if the offending root can be safely cut off.
In all these cases, it is important to begin with a consideration of just what it is that
needs to be conserved.
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