Cemeteries and memorials

Current information on the East Rockingham Pioneer Cemetery (ERPC)

The Governor of WA published a revised Closure Order for the ERPC in the Government Gazette of 29 November 2024.

We are sympathetic of those with a personal connection to this cemetery and the below clarifies what the changes to the Closure Order mean for grant holders or those with loved ones buried at this cemetery.

Essentially, these changes will allow more interments (burials and ashes) over a longer period of time.

Under the changes, there are now three ways for interment (burial or ashes) at the ERPC:

1) If you have a valid Grant issued in the last 25 years.

If your grant is less than 25 years old you can use it to be interred at the ERPC.

2) If you have a personal connection to the ERPC and do not have a Grant, you can write to the Minister for Local Government for special consideration. 

The City of Rockingham, Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) acknowledge that there will be some people with a personal connection to the ERPC who don’t have a valid Grant. If you or someone you know is in this situation, you can apply to the representatives of the Minister for special consideration for burial at the ERPC.

Please note, however, that: 

  • ministerial permission is not guaranteed
  • a strong case will be required to be considered for such permission

To apply for ministerial permission, visit Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and complete the relevant application form.

Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries

Alternatively you can contact the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries on +61 8 6552 1530, or email legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au.

3) If you were specifically named in the Closure Order.

The November 29 2024 Closure Order included the names of 35 individuals.  These names refer to specific people whom are permitted burial within the ERPC. For further information, or to use this permission, please contact either the City of Rockingham on 9528 0333, or the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board on 1300 793 109.

Frequently asked questions about the East Rockingham Pioneer Cemetery (ERPC)

Under the revised Closure Order for the ERPC published in the 29 November 2024 Government Gazette, there are now three ways for interment (burial or ashes) at the ERPC:

1) If you have a valid Grant.

2) If you do not have a Grant, you can write to the representatives for the Minister for Local Government for special consideration.

Please note, however, that:

  • ministerial permission is not guaranteed
  • a strong case will be required to be considered for such permission

To apply for ministerial permission, visit www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/cemeteries-burials and complete the relevant application form.

Alternatively you can contact the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries on +61 8 6552 1530, or email legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au.

3) If you were one of the 35 people specifically named in the 29 November 2024 Closure Order.

If you meet one of the below criteria then you can be buried with your loved one at the ERPC.

  • Those with a valid Grant. Please note that Grants are only valid for 25 years, after which they expire and can no longer be used. The person named on the Grant can authorise anyone to be interred within their plot until the plot is full or the Grant expires.
  • Those who the City has evidence of trying to renew a Grant or purchase a new one in the period 1 July 2007 – 30 June 2010, but weren’t issued one.
  • Those given special permission by the Minister. Anyone with a personal connection to the ERPC can apply to the Minister for Local Government for special permission to be interred here. Please contact the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries for more informationopens in a new windowopens in a new window.

When your grant expires:

  1. You no longer have an automatic right to be interred within the ERPC.
  2. You can no longer specify other people to be interred within your ERPC gravesite.
  3. You canapply to the Minister for Local Government for special permission to be interred within the ERPC. Please contact the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries on +61 8 6552 1530 or email legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au for more information.

The term ‘personal representative’ is defined in the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board By-Law as:

"personal representative" means:

a) the administrator of the estate or executor of the will of a deceased person;

b) the person who, by law or practice, has the best right to apply for administration of the estate of a deceased person; or

c) a person having the lawful custody of a dead body;

A personal representative may use a Grant of Right of Burial as if it was in their own name.

No. The Cemeteries Act 1986 specifies that all Grants, including those issued prior to the Act, expire after 25 years. Any Grant issued prior to 1986 expired in 2011, and all other Grants expire 25 years after the date of issue.

If your Grant doesn’t have date on it, the expiry will be determined by the Grant number. If the Grant number is 1720 or later, the Grant is deemed to expire on 30 June 2034. If the Grant number is less than 1720, please contact the City to get an accurate date of expiry.

You can apply to the Minister for Local Government for special permission to be interred at the ERPC. Please contact the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industriesopens in a new windowopens in a new window on +61 8 6552 1530, or email legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au for more information.

An initial Closure Order for the ERPC was issued by the WA Governor on 1 May 2009, and a revised Closure Order issued on 29 November 2024.

The Closure Order meant no further interments (burials, ashes) could occur at the ERPC, except for those specifically allowed under the Closure Order. See the Question ‘Can I be buried at the ERPC’ for further details.

The Rockingham Regional Memorial Parkopens in a new windowopens in a new window (RRMP) is the principal burial location for City of Rockingham residents.

You can contact the City of Rockingham by:

Phone: (08) 9528 0333

Email: customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au

You can also contact the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board:

Phone: 1300 793 109

Email: mcb@mcb.wa.gov.au

To find out more about asking the representatives for the Minister for special permission, please contact thte Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC):

Phone: +61 8 6552 1530

Email: legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Website: www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/cemeteries-burials
opens in a new windowopens in a new window

Cemeteries

East Rockingham Cemetery was established in 1866 and the first interment was of Joseph Broughton, on 13 October 1867. The exact location of his plot is not known, however a plaque to commemorate his interment has been placed on the front stone wall of the cemetery in the Anglican A section.

For the following 60 years, East Rockingham settlers were buried in the cemetery without any records being kept. In 1929, the Roads Board realised the scope of the problem and with the assistance of the Karrakatta Cemetery Board, long-time local resident John Bell was called upon to assist with the recording of names and locations of persons buried in the cemetery.

However, a burial register was not started until 1937 and many earlier interments that were not marked with a headstone are unknown.

In 1993, the cemetery was enlarged and the new area was laid out as lawn sections. Also in 1993, the first niche wall, made of granite, was built and a further four brick niche walls have been constructed since this time.

In 2007 the name of this cemetery was officially altered to include the word “Pioneer” to better reflect the historical significance of the cemetery to the Rockingham region. On 1 November 2007 an agreement was made with the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board for the undertaking of burials and placing of ashes at East Rockingham Pioneer Cemetery.

A plan of the cemetery providing a location guide of all sections within the cemetery can be downloaded below.

Memorials

The Memorials in Public Places Policy was adopted by Council on Tuesday 27 April 2021.

This policy recognises that the appropriate place to memorialise people is within the grounds of the district’s two existing cemeteries: East Rockingham Pioneer Cemetery or Rockingham Regional Memorial Park.

No applications for future memorials (other than temporary roadside crosses) will be granted.

All memorial plaques on walls, benches and roadsides were transitioned to a 25 year grant of tenure from 28 April 2021.

Rockingham-Regional-Memorial-Park

Image provided by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board.

The City is no longer taking applications for memorial benches, however an application can be made to replace existing plaques with dual plaques to include other family members. For further enquiries, please email us at customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au or call 9528 0333.

Replacement of existing plaques will be subject to the 25 year grant commencing 28 April 2021.

If you have an existing expression of interest relating to a new memorial bench, the City is unable to facilitate your request. You are directed to the Rockingham Regional Memorial Parkopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new window for consideration of one of their memorial options.

The Rockingham Memorial Wall was renewed and reinstated during the revitalisation of the Rockingham Foreshore precinct in 2019.

There is no capacity to install new memorial plaques, however an application can be made to replace existing plaques with dual plaques to include other family members. For further enquiries, please email us at customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au or call 9528 0333.

Replacement of existing plaques will be subject to the 25 year grant commencing 28 April 2021.

The Waikiki Memorial Wall is located at Waikiki foreshore just a few metres south of the Safety Bay Road and Malibu Road intersection.

The existing blank spaces on the memorial wall have already been reserved, and there is no capacity to install new memorial plaques, however an application can be made to replace existing plaques with dual plaques to include another family member. For further enquiries, please email us at customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au or call 9528 0333.

Replacement of existing plaques will be subject to the 25 year grant commencing 28 April 2021.

Memorial Frequently Asked Questions

If you have reserved a space and paid a deposit to place a plaque on the Waikiki wall, you will be able to use your placement when the time comes.

Placement of your plaque will still be subject to the 25 year grant from 28 April 2021.

If you wish to withdraw your application or do not use your reserved space within 25 years from 28 April 2021, please contact the City for a full refund of your deposit.

No, the policy recognises that the appropriate place to memorialise people is within the grounds of the district’s two existing cemeteries: East Rockingham Pioneer Cemetery or Rockingham Regional Memorial Park.

The Rockingham Regional Memorial Park is purpose built, providing a peaceful and secure environment with many options for commemoration.

Applications to replace damaged or stolen plaques will be approved. Costs associated with the replacement are the responsibility of the applicant.

The expiry date of the grant will not change.

All remaining memorial plaques will be removed. The City will make every effort to contact the registered applicants to arrange collection.

All plaques placed or replaced following the adoption of Council Policy – Memorials in Public Places will be removed 25 years from 28 April 2021.

If you wish to have an existing plaque removed from a wall, bench or roadside, please contact the City in writing customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au.

The City will remove the plaque, free of charge, and contact you when your plaque is available for collection from the Administration Building.

Requests can be made to name a park or building after an individual. If all criteria are met and the request is supported, the City will submit the request to the Geographic Names Committee for approval.

Applications must be made in writing and must provide evidence of:

  • the deceased having had a direct and long-term association with the location and having made a significant contribution to the area;
  • the application being in the public interest;
  • broad community support for the proposal.

Related documents

See also

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