West Terrace Cemetery dates back to the foundation of South Australia and is one of the last original capital city cemeteries in Australia still operating.

Initially known as the Adelaide Public Cemetery, the location of West Terrace Cemetery was fixed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 survey of the city of Adelaide. Located on the south-western boundary of the city, the site currently covers an area of 27.6ha.

In 1903 the first crematorium to be constructed in the Southern Hemisphere opened at West Terrace Cemetery. In 1960 a significant number of new memorial areas were developed to meet the needs of the different communities being established in Adelaide as a result of post war immigration.

The AIF Cemetery had its beginning in February 1920, soon after peace was declared in the Great War 1914 - 1918. More than 4,000 grave sites of ex-service personnel are located in the Light and Kendrew Oval areas.

West Terrace Cemetery is renowned for its ornate monuments, historic burial sites of early settlers and some of the only remaining indigenous vegetation of the Adelaide Plains. The Cemetery is now listed on the State Heritage register and all new memorials must comply with the New Memorial & Monument Guidelines (PDF/407KB).

Facilities

A number of unused sites and locations have been identified within the Cemetery and are being released each year to meet community needs. While the initial sites being released are amid existing burial sites, larger parcels of land will be released in the near future.

A chapel was built in 1871 in the Catholic area as a memorial to the Very Reverend John Smyth. The quaint and historic Smyth Chapel and is registered on the Register of National Estate.

An information touch screen provides data on burials within the Cemetery. Located at the old curator's building at the main entry gate off West Terrace, the touch screen is accessible seven days a week.

Opening hours

The cemetery is open to the public every day of the year.