West End Cemetery

The West End Cemetery was Townsville’s first official cemetery and second burial ground. It was established in 1865, although not formally gazetted until 1872. The earlier burial ground was north of the town, along the beach at North Ward. The West End Cemetery includes graves of many Townville pioneers such as Andrew Ball, the town’s founder. Other significant burials include William Hann who discovered gold in the Palmer River in 1872; Charles Rowe, a partner in John Melton Black’s pastoral empire; and Thankfull Willmett, printer and businessman. The suburb of West End developed with a soap works, foundry and other commercial operations established in the late 19th century. The adjacent West End School was founded in 1887. A new cemetery was established at Belgian Gardens in 1900. Sale of burial plots ceased at West End in 1902. It was officially closed in 1930, although burials continued for those who had already purchased plots. Two important Townsville firms of monumental masons contributed to the monumental architecture here. From the late 19th century until 1984, Melrose and Fenwick produced both headstones and wrought iron grave surrounds, and Whebells, operating from the late 19th century to the 1950s, made headstones.