Why photograph Cemeteries????
People often ask me why I spend so much time in cemeteries photographing............
We are losing cemetery headstones at an alarming rate from weathering, deterioration and old age, lack of maintenance, spreading mould, reclaiming of gravesites and most distressing of all, vandalism.
This is why we are committed to preserving this heritage for future generations.
By photographing the gravestones of these ancestors, we are actively recording family history
not only for those researching now, but those in the future.
We do this work because we believe that the legacy of every person deserves to be remembered in photographic form, and that the heritage of the Pioneers of the State of South Australia should be kept for preservation
by the National Library and for future generations.
Many headstones become unreadable or damaged well before the lease expiry date.
We are losing cemetery headstones at an alarming rate from weathering, deterioration and old age, lack of maintenance, spreading mould, reclaiming of gravesites and most distressing of all, vandalism.
This is why we are committed to preserving this heritage for future generations.
By photographing the gravestones of these ancestors, we are actively recording family history
not only for those researching now, but those in the future.
We do this work because we believe that the legacy of every person deserves to be remembered in photographic form, and that the heritage of the Pioneers of the State of South Australia should be kept for preservation
by the National Library and for future generations.
Many headstones become unreadable or damaged well before the lease expiry date.
Our Story.........
We have continually travelled about the state of South Australia photographing complete cemeteries for the benefit of the genealogy enthusiast.
With 630 cemeteries already photographed and over 269,000 photos, this is one of the largest collections available to the public.
We have made an effort to visit as many cemeteries as possible, but are limited to weekends and our 'annual holidays'. It then takes many, many hours looking at the photos to rename them by surnames. My aim is to photograph at least one cemetery per week. Something we more than achieved in both 2008 and 2009. We are already way ahead of schedule for 2010.
In 2005, when we began our 'little project', it became apparent that there is a need for photos to be made available to those who are unable to travel to city, country and remote destinations.
By making available the District CD's to both the State and National Libraries, the headstones will now be a 'living memory' and not ravaged by the sands of time and lost to 'the enthusiast' of the future.
In the 2007/08 and 2008/09 financial years we travelled a total of over 20,500 klms, specifically to photograph cemeteries. All proceeds from sales go towards the costs associated with travel, however we still incur losses in the thousands of dollars.
I wish everyone well with their research.
The 2009 year in review
Looking back we have certainly achieved a lot this year! With 145 more cemeteries added to the site we are now well on our way to having close to 250,000 headstones photographed - something that I would never have imagined possible when I first started this project. We travelled far and wide this year and completed all the areas in the South East of the State - Barossa and Clare Districts, Salisbury District, Wakefield District and tackled the two large cemeteries of North Road Anglican and Cheltenham Cemetery here in the Adelaide Metro Area. Two highlights were giving presentations to the Fleurieu Peninsula and South East Family History Groups.
We have purchased our own domain name - www.gravesecrets.net and www.webgenaustralia.com to assist you with your research needs on the web.
Our website has been revamped - something that took me many weeks - and I now have added the 'Local History Book' section which I will be working on over the summer months.
I hope this adds another useful aspect to your research.
The name search page appears to be another useful tool that everyone appreciates - it was my aim to be able to put in a surname and have available every cemetery where there is a headstone by that name listed - but unfortunately with permission from the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority denied for acess to West Terrace (the most historic cemetery here in South Australia), Enfield and Smithfield cemeteries, sadly this will never become a reality.
I have received numerous requests for 'thumbnails' of each photo to be put on the website. With nearly 250,000 photos on file now this would be an enourmous task uploading each photo and re-arranging the pages to suit. It would also make the website extremely large and very, very slow - this is the reason we have not done so in the past and I am sure no-one wants to wait 5 - 10 minutes for each page to download!
And what will 2010 bring?
As many of you are aware my website was 'archived' for a few months early in 2009 due to a certain individual's actions.
The person who had been harrasing and stalking me since August 2008 has once again surfaced with threats and yet another intimidating letter. With personal difficulties (caring for a disabled son 24/7 with a back injury) the emotional upset this person caused in the past, led to me being unable to continue my cemetery work for the early part of the year. Let's hope this will not happen again.
I hope later this year we will be able to travel to Whyalla and Broken Hill and some Northern Cemeteries.
Mid Murray and Light Districts will also be a priority.
I wish everyone a happy and safe 2010 and all the best with their research.
Latest Cemeteries to be added in 2010
(when colour changes from Blue to Grey this means that the cemetery is now completed and available for sale)
26th January - Truro, Dutton St. John's Lutheran, St. Kitts St. Paul's Lutheran, St. Kitts St. Petri Lutheran, Neukirch, Neukirch Pilgrim Lutheran (no headstones) and Ebenezer St. John's Lutheran Cemetery were all photographed and are now available.
6-7th February - We've passed the 250,000 photos on file!!!
Travelled to the Northern Areas Council District and photographed the following cemeteries -
Yacka, Laura, Gladstone, Jamestown, Georgetown, Narridy, Spalding and Spalding Gaelic.
It was a really hot weekend - photographing in 37C but we were able to get a lot done.
9th February - Single Photo Purchase option is again available - please note there has been a price increase.
17th February - Cheltenham Cemetery expired leases advertised 20th & 27th January 2010 uploaded.
18th February - Have commenced adding Google Map locations of cemeteries where available - some remote and most church cemeteries are not shown on Google Maps.
24th February - Downloadable list of over 200 headstones that were recently vandalized at West Terrace Cemetery
Click here for details.
3rd March - Google Maps for Cemeteries A-M have now been uploaded where available.
9th March - over 250 South Australian obituaries now available.
16th March - another 100 obituaries added to the site - mostly from 1901 & 1902.
Google location maps completed for available cemeteries.
17th March - downlable files of information contained on South Australian Birth, Death and Marriage certificates available on
Free Adelaide BDM search page.
18-29th March - more obituaries added to site - now over 800 available - mostly from early 1900's
22nd March - Gift Vouchers now available!!!
2nd - 4th April - Travelled over 1,100 klms. Photographed the following cemeteries Whyalla, Iron Knob, Wilmington, Wilmington Catholic, Willowie, Booleroo Centre,Tarcowie, Appila General, Appila Catholic, Appila Pine Creek Lutheran and Jamestown Private. Also re photographed Port Germein photos that were donated and had reflections in them. Also checked the Georgetown Catholic cemetery - there is no cemetery next to the Catholic church, the "Catholic Cemetery" is the Catholic section in the General Cemetery.
5th April - Northern Areas District CD now available $125.00 click here for details
7th April - 546 more names added to Cheltenham Cemetery
28th April - Lancelot Cemetery photos kindly donated by Samantha Evans
1st May - Whyalla District CD now available
6th May - Details added for Cabra Domincian Nuns and St. Joseph's Nuns in religious orders section.
Death certificate details will be added as they are researched.
16th May - Travelled up north over 1,000 klms to the Mount Remarkable District and Orroroo Carrieton District.
Made it to Carrieton - the rain had set in. We photographed under umbrellas, sinking up to our ankles in the red mud almost slipped over a couple of times. That's two more pairs of shoes that are no good now!!! The roads had turned to mush (even with the 4wd it was a little scary), it was 10 degrees, and we had done 20 cemeteries, and after dodging kangaroos for an hour (have never seen so many) and not finding some of the cemeteries where they were supposed to be, we decided to turn for home at lunch time as the weather was getting worse. Six hours later we arrived home!!
Photographed the following cemeteries
Wirrabara Forest, Wirrabara, Charlton, Melrose Glenorchy Private Cemetery (Bangor), Melrose Old (cleared), Melrose, Willowie Bethlehem Lutheran, Amyton, Morchard, Orroroo,Orroroo Lone Grave, Pekina St. Catherine's Catholic, Pekina, Pekina St. Paul's Lutheran, Bruce, Hammond, Carrieton, Carrieton St. Raphael's Catholic, Eurelia and Yatina.
Also checked out but could find no headstones for Miranda, Pekina Station, Black Rock Station, Moockra and Walloway (Rye).
22nd May -Mount Remarkable District CD now available - $75.00
23rd May - returned to photograph Penfield Zoar Bible Christian Cemetery - no snakes this time!
24th May - Playford District Cemeteries CD now available $60.00 Please note that Smithfield Memorial Park is only a .pdf list of names as this cemetery is administered by the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority and they have denied permission for any photographs to be made available to the public. All enquiries regarding this cemetery should be made to the Authority - $13.00 fee per deceased person enquiry applies.
24th May - Cheltenham cemetery list of names is now complete as far as possible. There are 774 headstones that are unreadable due to age and weathering and 482 that are not in english.
25th May - Charles Sturt District CD now available $60.00 Please note that Cheltenham Cemetery is only a .pdf file of list of names as Adelaide Cemeteries Authority administer this cemetery and have declined permission for photos to be made available to the public. All enquiries regarding this cemetery should be made to the Authority - $13.00 fee per deceased person enquiry applies.
29th May - Currently searching the South Australian Governement Gazettes for Notice of land details for each cemetery. Also finding notices where cemeteries have been closed, and appointment of Curators. Will gradually add to each cemetery page over the next few months. See Lobethal General Cemetery as example.
2nd June - Photographed Kapunda General, Allendale North Scotty's Grave, Allen's Creek Bethlehem Lutheran , Hamilton St. Matthews Anglican, Allendale North Methodist & Kapunda St. John's Catholic Cemeteries.
We have now photographed our 600th Cemetery!!
8th June - Photographed Kapunda Wesleyan, Bagot Well Congregational, Nain Lutheran Church, Nain Zum Schmalen Wege Lutheran, Greenock Public, Marananga Gnadenfrei Lutheran, Marananga Seppelt Family Mausoleum Private, Kangaroo Flat, Kangaroo Flat Methodist and Gawler Ward Belt Primitive Methodist Cemeteries.
12 - 14th June We traveled to Kangaroo Island and photographed the following cemeteries -Penneshaw, Cape Willoughby (relocated headstone), Kingscote Old Pioneer, Kingscote General, American River, Emu Bay Historical, Middle River Snelling Private and Harvey's Return (Cape Borda Lighthouse keepers).
22nd June - Kangaroo Island District now available $65.00
27th June - Photographed Gommersal Schoenborn Lutheran, Bethel Steinthal Lutheran, Bethel Moravian Lutheran, Freeling Schoenfeldt Lutheran, Gawler River Stone Hill and Buchsfelde St. Paul's Old Lutheran Cemeteries.
12th July - After nearly two weeks of computer problems I am now back up and running - with a new computer
Did you know that the South Australian BDM disks will not run on a 64bit operating system with Windows7 Home Premium? (This is what most new computers now have). You can overcome this problem by purchasing Windows7 Professional.
Windows 7 64bit using ‘Windows Virtual PC – XP Mode’
You need to download it from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx
Follow the instructions to install the above. Then start XP mode and install the BDM’s
Looking back we have certainly achieved a lot this year! With 145 more cemeteries added to the site we are now well on our way to having close to 250,000 headstones photographed - something that I would never have imagined possible when I first started this project. We travelled far and wide this year and completed all the areas in the South East of the State - Barossa and Clare Districts, Salisbury District, Wakefield District and tackled the two large cemeteries of North Road Anglican and Cheltenham Cemetery here in the Adelaide Metro Area. Two highlights were giving presentations to the Fleurieu Peninsula and South East Family History Groups.
We have purchased our own domain name - www.gravesecrets.net and www.webgenaustralia.com to assist you with your research needs on the web.
Our website has been revamped - something that took me many weeks - and I now have added the 'Local History Book' section which I will be working on over the summer months.
I hope this adds another useful aspect to your research.
The name search page appears to be another useful tool that everyone appreciates - it was my aim to be able to put in a surname and have available every cemetery where there is a headstone by that name listed - but unfortunately with permission from the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority denied for acess to West Terrace (the most historic cemetery here in South Australia), Enfield and Smithfield cemeteries, sadly this will never become a reality.
I have received numerous requests for 'thumbnails' of each photo to be put on the website. With nearly 250,000 photos on file now this would be an enourmous task uploading each photo and re-arranging the pages to suit. It would also make the website extremely large and very, very slow - this is the reason we have not done so in the past and I am sure no-one wants to wait 5 - 10 minutes for each page to download!
And what will 2010 bring?
As many of you are aware my website was 'archived' for a few months early in 2009 due to a certain individual's actions.
The person who had been harrasing and stalking me since August 2008 has once again surfaced with threats and yet another intimidating letter. With personal difficulties (caring for a disabled son 24/7 with a back injury) the emotional upset this person caused in the past, led to me being unable to continue my cemetery work for the early part of the year. Let's hope this will not happen again.
I hope later this year we will be able to travel to Whyalla and Broken Hill and some Northern Cemeteries.
Mid Murray and Light Districts will also be a priority.
I wish everyone a happy and safe 2010 and all the best with their research.
Latest Cemeteries to be added in 2010
(when colour changes from Blue to Grey this means that the cemetery is now completed and available for sale)
26th January - Truro, Dutton St. John's Lutheran, St. Kitts St. Paul's Lutheran, St. Kitts St. Petri Lutheran, Neukirch, Neukirch Pilgrim Lutheran (no headstones) and Ebenezer St. John's Lutheran Cemetery were all photographed and are now available.
6-7th February - We've passed the 250,000 photos on file!!!
Travelled to the Northern Areas Council District and photographed the following cemeteries -
Yacka, Laura, Gladstone, Jamestown, Georgetown, Narridy, Spalding and Spalding Gaelic.
It was a really hot weekend - photographing in 37C but we were able to get a lot done.
9th February - Single Photo Purchase option is again available - please note there has been a price increase.
17th February - Cheltenham Cemetery expired leases advertised 20th & 27th January 2010 uploaded.
18th February - Have commenced adding Google Map locations of cemeteries where available - some remote and most church cemeteries are not shown on Google Maps.
24th February - Downloadable list of over 200 headstones that were recently vandalized at West Terrace Cemetery
Click here for details.
3rd March - Google Maps for Cemeteries A-M have now been uploaded where available.
9th March - over 250 South Australian obituaries now available.
16th March - another 100 obituaries added to the site - mostly from 1901 & 1902.
Google location maps completed for available cemeteries.
17th March - downlable files of information contained on South Australian Birth, Death and Marriage certificates available on
Free Adelaide BDM search page.
18-29th March - more obituaries added to site - now over 800 available - mostly from early 1900's
22nd March - Gift Vouchers now available!!!
2nd - 4th April - Travelled over 1,100 klms. Photographed the following cemeteries Whyalla, Iron Knob, Wilmington, Wilmington Catholic, Willowie, Booleroo Centre,Tarcowie, Appila General, Appila Catholic, Appila Pine Creek Lutheran and Jamestown Private. Also re photographed Port Germein photos that were donated and had reflections in them. Also checked the Georgetown Catholic cemetery - there is no cemetery next to the Catholic church, the "Catholic Cemetery" is the Catholic section in the General Cemetery.
5th April - Northern Areas District CD now available $125.00 click here for details
7th April - 546 more names added to Cheltenham Cemetery
28th April - Lancelot Cemetery photos kindly donated by Samantha Evans
1st May - Whyalla District CD now available
6th May - Details added for Cabra Domincian Nuns and St. Joseph's Nuns in religious orders section.
Death certificate details will be added as they are researched.
16th May - Travelled up north over 1,000 klms to the Mount Remarkable District and Orroroo Carrieton District.
Made it to Carrieton - the rain had set in. We photographed under umbrellas, sinking up to our ankles in the red mud almost slipped over a couple of times. That's two more pairs of shoes that are no good now!!! The roads had turned to mush (even with the 4wd it was a little scary), it was 10 degrees, and we had done 20 cemeteries, and after dodging kangaroos for an hour (have never seen so many) and not finding some of the cemeteries where they were supposed to be, we decided to turn for home at lunch time as the weather was getting worse. Six hours later we arrived home!!
Photographed the following cemeteries
Wirrabara Forest, Wirrabara, Charlton, Melrose Glenorchy Private Cemetery (Bangor), Melrose Old (cleared), Melrose, Willowie Bethlehem Lutheran, Amyton, Morchard, Orroroo,Orroroo Lone Grave, Pekina St. Catherine's Catholic, Pekina, Pekina St. Paul's Lutheran, Bruce, Hammond, Carrieton, Carrieton St. Raphael's Catholic, Eurelia and Yatina.
Also checked out but could find no headstones for Miranda, Pekina Station, Black Rock Station, Moockra and Walloway (Rye).
22nd May -Mount Remarkable District CD now available - $75.00
23rd May - returned to photograph Penfield Zoar Bible Christian Cemetery - no snakes this time!
24th May - Playford District Cemeteries CD now available $60.00 Please note that Smithfield Memorial Park is only a .pdf list of names as this cemetery is administered by the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority and they have denied permission for any photographs to be made available to the public. All enquiries regarding this cemetery should be made to the Authority - $13.00 fee per deceased person enquiry applies.
24th May - Cheltenham cemetery list of names is now complete as far as possible. There are 774 headstones that are unreadable due to age and weathering and 482 that are not in english.
25th May - Charles Sturt District CD now available $60.00 Please note that Cheltenham Cemetery is only a .pdf file of list of names as Adelaide Cemeteries Authority administer this cemetery and have declined permission for photos to be made available to the public. All enquiries regarding this cemetery should be made to the Authority - $13.00 fee per deceased person enquiry applies.
29th May - Currently searching the South Australian Governement Gazettes for Notice of land details for each cemetery. Also finding notices where cemeteries have been closed, and appointment of Curators. Will gradually add to each cemetery page over the next few months. See Lobethal General Cemetery as example.
2nd June - Photographed Kapunda General, Allendale North Scotty's Grave, Allen's Creek Bethlehem Lutheran , Hamilton St. Matthews Anglican, Allendale North Methodist & Kapunda St. John's Catholic Cemeteries.
We have now photographed our 600th Cemetery!!
8th June - Photographed Kapunda Wesleyan, Bagot Well Congregational, Nain Lutheran Church, Nain Zum Schmalen Wege Lutheran, Greenock Public, Marananga Gnadenfrei Lutheran, Marananga Seppelt Family Mausoleum Private, Kangaroo Flat, Kangaroo Flat Methodist and Gawler Ward Belt Primitive Methodist Cemeteries.
12 - 14th June We traveled to Kangaroo Island and photographed the following cemeteries -Penneshaw, Cape Willoughby (relocated headstone), Kingscote Old Pioneer, Kingscote General, American River, Emu Bay Historical, Middle River Snelling Private and Harvey's Return (Cape Borda Lighthouse keepers).
22nd June - Kangaroo Island District now available $65.00
27th June - Photographed Gommersal Schoenborn Lutheran, Bethel Steinthal Lutheran, Bethel Moravian Lutheran, Freeling Schoenfeldt Lutheran, Gawler River Stone Hill and Buchsfelde St. Paul's Old Lutheran Cemeteries.
12th July - After nearly two weeks of computer problems I am now back up and running - with a new computer
Did you know that the South Australian BDM disks will not run on a 64bit operating system with Windows7 Home Premium? (This is what most new computers now have). You can overcome this problem by purchasing Windows7 Professional.
Windows 7 64bit using ‘Windows Virtual PC – XP Mode’
You need to download it from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx
Follow the instructions to install the above. Then start XP mode and install the BDM’s
16th July - Now available Alphabetical Listings of all headstones in each district - just $9.99 each - ideal to print and bind for researchers in Libraries and Family History Groups and District Councils. See the District Compliations page for details and an example.
19th July - another 150 obituarties added to site - 1,000 now available.
24th July Photographed the following cemeteries - now available. Nildottie, Swan Reach, Sedan, Towitta,
Keyneton North Rhine Lutheran, Keyneton St. Peter's Lutheran, Cambrai St. John's Lutheran, Cambrai Rheinthal Lutheran and Cambrai Lone Grave. Also located Pine Hut Creek Cemetery but it was in the middle of a freshly sown crop so will have to return to photograph headstones later when crop has been harvested.
19th July - another 150 obituarties added to site - 1,000 now available.
24th July Photographed the following cemeteries - now available. Nildottie, Swan Reach, Sedan, Towitta,
Keyneton North Rhine Lutheran, Keyneton St. Peter's Lutheran, Cambrai St. John's Lutheran, Cambrai Rheinthal Lutheran and Cambrai Lone Grave. Also located Pine Hut Creek Cemetery but it was in the middle of a freshly sown crop so will have to return to photograph headstones later when crop has been harvested.