top of page
Search

Babies buried in the Bush

Updated: Aug 4

Thanks to an enquiry by Louise Clarkson, who was writing an article about children's cemeteries, I stumbled across the Parkerville Children's Home Bush Cemetery. This cemetery is the final resting place for very young children who were brought to the home but could not survive in this life.



The History of Parkerville Children's Home


The Parkerville Children's Home was founded in 1903 by nuns from the Church of England, led by Sister Kate Clutterbuck. It is located northeast of Perth. When a child died, the nuns would transport the simple coffin to the cemetery by horse and cart. This journey covered three kilometres west of the home.


Most graves originally had simple wooden crosses. Unfortunately, these were destroyed in a bushfire during the 1950s. They were later replaced with concrete markers. Approximately 30 children are buried in the cemetery, with death dates recorded between 1903 and 1919. A plaque at the entrance lists 24 of these children, but sadly, their birth dates remain unknown.



The Young Lives Remembered


The eldest child buried in the cemetery was Edith Lillian Sutton, who passed away at just three years old in 1903. The youngest were several babies, who were only two months old at the time of their deaths.


Edith was born to 14-year-old Ivy Sutton, who was too young to care for her baby. Ivy gave birth to Edith in 1900. The identity of the father, like many others associated with the children at Parkerville, remains unknown. Tragically, Edith died on July 25, 1903, according to the list at the cemetery's entrance.


Ivy would later marry ten years after Edith's death and have other children. Notably, the Sutton family continued to support the Parkerville Children's Home with regular donations for many years afterward.


The Importance of Remembering


The Parkerville Children's Home Bush Cemetery serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost too soon. Each grave tells a story of innocence and the struggles faced by children who were unable to find a safe haven. The cemetery is not just a burial ground; it is a place of reflection and remembrance.


Visiting this cemetery can evoke a range of emotions. It reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of compassion for those who are vulnerable. The legacy of the Parkerville Children's Home continues to resonate, highlighting the need for care and support for children in difficult circumstances.


Conclusion


The Parkerville Children's Home Bush Cemetery is a significant historical site. It stands as a testament to the lives of children who were cared for, albeit briefly, by the nuns of the Church of England. Their stories, though often untold, are crucial to understanding the history of child welfare in Australia.


For those interested in learning more, I encourage you to explore the references below. They provide further insight into the history of the Parkerville Children's Home and the lives of the children buried there.


References

Comments

Subscribe Form

  • facebook
  • twitter

©2019 by Tales from the Grave. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page