It was constructed in 1836[1] and is the first consecrated cemetery in Western Australia, gazetted in 1840 as a public burial ground to provide for the needs of a growing community.

It was closed as a public cemetery in 1959,[2] with a few burials being held there until 2000 and ashes placed there until 2009.

[3] It is thought to be the longest serving public cemetery in Western Australia.

[2] Easily accessed by pedestrians the site has a number of mature native and exotic trees and a range of diversity, style and age of memorials and grave fittings on the plots.

[1] Classified by the National Trust in 2000, the cemetery was listed on the permanent register of the Heritage Council of Western Australia in 2003.