Metropolitan Cemeteries Board

18/09/2026

The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board's Historical Stillborn Memorial Project is seeking community feedback to help shape how babies who were stillborn or died shortly after birth and were historically buried in public communal graves without formal recognition can be respectfully acknowledged and commemorated.

The project aims to recognise these babies and their families while truthfully reflecting on past burial practices where many were laid to rest often without individual markers or acknowledgement.

Following feedback from stakeholders and community members, we have extended the survey closing date to 6.00 pm AWST on Monday, 2 November 2026.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to share your thoughts, we encourage you to take part if you feel able to do so. Your feedback will help shape a commemoration that honours these babies and the families it is intended to represent.

You can find a link to the survey along with further information about this project in the comments.

03/09/2026

This Father's Day, we warmly invite the community to visit and remember the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who have shaped our lives and left a lasting legacy.

Our cemetery grounds will be open from sunrise to sunset, offering a place for quiet reflection, remembrance and connection.

The Administration Office at Karrakatta Cemetery will be open from 9am to 1pm to receive enquiries. Administration offices at all other cemeteries will be closed.
Karrakatta Café will be open from 10am to 2pm.

Whether you place a flower, share a memory, or simply spend a moment in reflection, we wish all who visit a meaningful Father's Day.

17/08/2026

For many families, the loss of a stillborn baby is a deeply personal and lifelong experience. We recognise that, historically, many babies who were stillborn were not provided with individual recognition, and that their parents, siblings and loved ones may continue to carry the impacts of this loss today.

The Historical Stillborn Memorial Project and Committee has been established to explore opportunities for a memorial that respectfully acknowledges these babies and honours the experiences of the families who loved them.

The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board has undertaken extensive historical research to inform this project and will facilitate its implementation in partnership with the Committee and the community.

The Committee are now seeking community feedback to help guide this important project. We especially welcome input from individuals and families with lived experience, as well as anyone who would like to contribute their thoughts on how remembrance and recognition can be meaningfully reflected.

Please see the links in the comments where you can share your feedback or find out further information about this project, including details of grief and bereavement support services.

Please take care when engaging with this content and participate only if and when it feels right for you.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is advertising this consultation on behalf of the Historical Stillborn Memorial Committee and the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) is seeking community feedback to help inform the

31/07/2026

If you're visiting our cemeteries and notice our rose bushes looking a little smaller than usual, don't worry! It's their annual winter pruning.

Pruning while the roses are dormant helps encourage strong new growth and even more beautiful blooms come spring. In just a few months, these hardy plants will be bursting back to life with vibrant colour.

Thank you for your understanding as we care for these peaceful, reflective spaces throughout the seasons.

08/07/2026

The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board's Surgical Metals Recycling Program continues to make a meaningful difference for Western Australians facing cancer.

The $424,809.40 donated to Cancer Council Western Australia in November 2025 has helped support Crawford Lodge and Milroy Lodge, which provide accommodation and support for regional cancer patients, their families and carers travelling to Perth for treatment.

Between December 2025 and May 2026, the lodges welcomed 1,576 cancer patients, 1,000 carers and 76 additional guests, providing more than 21,000 bed nights for country Western Australians needing a place to stay while accessing critical cancer treatment.

More than just accommodation, the lodges offer transport to treatment, wellbeing programs, social connection and a supportive environment that helps ease the emotional, practical and financial pressures of a cancer diagnosis. Guests regularly describe the lodges as a place of comfort, community and reassurance during a difficult time.

This impact is made possible through the generosity of families who participate in our Surgical Metals Recycling Program, turning a final act of kindness into ongoing support for those who need it most. Since 2013, the program has generated more than $3.4 million for Western Australian charities.

Alongside Cancer Council WA, our donation program also supports Lifeline WA and Ronald McDonald House Charities WA, helping extend this legacy of care across our community.

You can read more about our Surgical Metals Recycling Program here https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/metropolitan-cemeteries-board/metals-and-cremation

28/05/2026

This morning, we were proud to launch the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2026-2027 (RAP) at the Aboriginal Keeping Place at Karrakatta Cemetery.

The Keeping Place is a nationally significant site, the first of its kind in Australia, providing a culturally appropriate resting place for ancestral remains awaiting repatriation to Country. It stands as a powerful symbol of dignity, respect, and cultural healing, making it a deeply fitting location to mark this important milestone.

We were honoured to begin the morning with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Noongar cultural practitioner Troy Collard, and to hear from Dianne Ryder, a decorated war veteran and proud Whadjuk Noongar woman. Their contributions grounded the event in culture, respect, and connection to Country.

Launching our second RAP during National Reconciliation Week is a significant step forward. It reinforces our commitment to strengthening relationships, deepening cultural understanding, and creating meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

At MCB, we recognise that the land on which our cemeteries stand are First Nations lands. Our role as custodians of places of deep cultural, historical, and spiritual significance carries with it an important responsibility, to ensure these spaces are inclusive, respectful, and culturally safe for all communities.

This RAP is more than a document, it is a commitment to action, accountability, and genuine partnership. It will guide how we:

✔ Build stronger, respectful relationships

✔ Increase cultural awareness and understanding

✔ Create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Thank you to our distinguished guests, community members, MCB staff, and all those who contributed to bringing this launch together.

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey and one that requires listening, learning, and walking together with humility and respect. We are proud to continue this journey and the positive impact it will have across the communities we serve.

You can read more in our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2026-2027 in the link below.

https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/reflect-reconciliation-action-plan-2026-2027-metropolitan-cemeteries-board

08/05/2026

🚧 Temporary Road & Gate Access Restrictions – Karrakatta Mausoleum (Stages 1–4)

From Monday 11 May, works will commence to replace the paving outside Stages 1–4 of the Karrakatta Mausoleum. These works are expected to last for two weeks.

During this period:
• The area will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles
• Temporary fencing and roadblocks will be in place
• North-western Mausoleum gates will be temporarily closed

How to Access Mausoleum Stages 1–4
• Entry will be via John Curtin Avenue on the south-west side of the Mausoleum only

Access to Mausoleum Stages 5+ are not affected.

Children’s Butterfly Garden
The garden will remain accessible by:
• Walking through the Lance Howard Memorial Garden, or
• Via the Roman Catholic DA section

We appreciate your patience while these important works are completed.

07/05/2026

This Mother’s Day, we warmly invite families and members of the community to visit our cemeteries as a place of reflection, remembrance and connection.

On Sunday 10 May, staff will be available at Karrakatta Cemetery from 9am to 1pm to offer assistance and information to visitors.

☕ Cafes open:
The Karrakatta and Pinnaroo Cafes will be open from 9am to 2pm, providing a quiet place to pause and reflect.

💐 Cemetery grounds:
The grounds of our other cemeteries will be open as usual.

Whether you are visiting to honour a loved one, place flowers, or spend a quiet moment, we invite you to spend a moment of remembrance with us.

26/03/2026

We warmly invite you to come together on Easter Sunday for Mass, reflecting in hope and loving remembrance.

Sunday 5 April 2026
Karrakatta Mausoleum, Karrakatta Cemetery
Service begins at 10.00am

Mass will be provided by Fr Oscar Aguilera OSM, conducted in English and Italian.

Gathering at the mausoleum on Easter Sunday offers a special opportunity to celebrate Christ’s resurrection while also remembering and praying for our loved ones who have passed. In this sacred space, we hold together hope, faith, and remembrance.

All are welcome to attend. We look forward to sharing this meaningful Easter celebration with you and your family.

16/03/2026

As part of the natural environment, snakes can be active in some of our cemeteries at certain times of the year. Recently, juvenile snakes have been spotted at Rockingham Regional Memorial Park, and visitors are asked to take care while moving through the grounds.

If you do happen to see a snake, there’s no need to be alarmed, but please do not approach it. Snakes will move on in their own time if left undisturbed.

We encourage everyone to stay aware of their surroundings, keep to pathways where possible, and enjoy their visit safely. If you have any concerns, please contact the administration office, who will be happy to assist.

Thank you for helping us look after both our community and local wildlife.