Stawell Cemetery, Cypress Street, STAWELL

The Stawell Cemetery is aesthetically significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates important visual qualities. These qualities include the open grassed setting with mature perimeter Cypresses, numerous graves of varying designs and sizes constructed of marble, granite, slate and Grampians freestone arranged in regular rows, cast iron grave surrounds and the front wrought iron entrance gates supported by rendered brick piers. The Victorian Picturesque Gothic Revival styled Sexton's Lodge, with its steeply pitched gable roof form, encircling verandah supported by timber posts formed point-arched arcades in the gable ends, pointed arched leadlight window, lapped galvanised corrugated iron roof cladding and horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, also contributes to the significance of the place.

The Stawell Cemetery is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the development of the Stawell around the time of the surveying of the Township of Stawell in 1858 and represents the resting place of many locals, including a number of prominent 19th century identities that contributed substantially the town. The Cemetery also has associations with William Crellin who was responsible for the design layout in 1870 and the design of the Sexton's Lodge in 1871, and Francis Watkins, one of Stawell's early monumental masons who was responsible for the artistry in a number of the headstones. The cemetery has further associations with P. Whelan of Whelan the Wrecker who donated the iron gates in the early 20th century. These gates were originally part of the Bijou Theatre in Melbourne which was demolished.

The Stawell Cemetery is socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised and valued by the Stawell community and the surrounding district for cultural, spiritual and commemorative reasons.

Overall, the Stawell Cemetery is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Cemeteries and Burial Sites

Category

Cemetery/Graveyard/Burial Ground