Karrakatta Cemetery has been part of Perth life since its first burial in 1899, and it is where many WA families still gather to say goodbye. If a funeral has been booked at Karrakatta, or you want to visit a loved one’s grave, knowing the layout and the routine of the day can take away some of the worry. This guide covers where it is, a little of its history, the chapels and crematorium, burial and memorial options, and how to find a grave.
Karrakatta Cemetery: Key Facts Before You Visit
- Karrakatta Cemetery is on Railway Road, Karrakatta WA 6010, about 7 kilometres west of the Perth city centre.
- It opened for burials in 1899, and its crematorium opened in 1937. It is run by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB).
- There are four chapels: Norfolk, Brown, Dench and the outdoor Garden Chapel.
- Options include lawn and denominational graves, a children’s area, mausoleum crypts and many cremation memorials.
- The grounds are open from dawn to dusk every day, and you can search burial records online with the MCB Name Search.
In this article
- Where is Karrakatta Cemetery?
- A brief history of Karrakatta Cemetery
- What chapels are at Karrakatta Cemetery?
- Is there a crematorium at Karrakatta?
- Burial options at Karrakatta
- Memorial options after a cremation
- How does a funeral at Karrakatta work?
- Visiting Karrakatta Cemetery
- How do I find a grave at Karrakatta?
- Saying Goodbye at One of Perth’s Most Historic Cemeteries
- Frequently asked questions
Where is Karrakatta Cemetery?
Karrakatta Cemetery is on Railway Road in Karrakatta WA 6010, about seven kilometres west of the Perth city centre. MCB notes it can be reached by car or train.
The main entrance is on Railway Road, and parking is available along Railway Road and throughout the grounds. Disability parking is shown on the main cemetery map. The cemetery is large, at a little over 98 hectares, so it is worth checking the Karrakatta maps before you go.
Karrakatta is managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the WA Government authority that also runs Pinnaroo, Fremantle, Midland, Guildford and Rockingham cemeteries.
A brief history of Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery opened for burials in 1899, with the first burial on 24 April that year. Its crematorium followed in 1937.
The State heritage record for Karrakatta (inHerit) gives some background. The Board of Trustees of the Karrakatta Cemetery was gazetted on 12 November 1897. Lionel Boas, the Board’s secretary, prepared plans for the cemetery’s sections, and his brother Harold Boas was its architect. Before a proper road existed, mourners came to funerals by train, or by cart or sulky following a horse-drawn hearse. The original Lodge (1897) and the Waiting House (1906) are among its early buildings, and the first cremation took place on 30 November 1937.
Today, MCB records more than 201,000 burials and more than 189,000 cremations at Karrakatta. For those interested in its stories, MCB runs three self-guided historical walk trails, including one dedicated to Western Australian women, with QR codes at each point of interest.
What chapels are at Karrakatta Cemetery?
Karrakatta has three indoor chapels, Norfolk, Brown and Dench, and an outdoor Garden Chapel. Each indoor chapel has a condolence lounge next to it for refreshments after the service.
- Norfolk Chapel: the largest chapel, with a media gallery, organ loft, quiet room and outdoor screens for bigger gatherings.
- Brown Chapel: a medium chapel seating 36, with room for about 104 more standing, plus an external sound system and monitor screens.
- Dench Chapel: a small, intimate chapel seating 20, with room for about 60 standing.
- Garden Chapel: a private, open-air setting with shade. It has no toilets, and multimedia is not standard here, although livestreaming can be added for an extra charge.
According to MCB’s facilities guide, all indoor chapels are air-conditioned and have audio-visual systems and livestreaming, which your funeral director arranges. Disabled access is available at every chapel, including the garden area, and a crucifix and wheelchairs can be provided on request. Saturday services are possible with a surcharge.
Catering in the condolence lounges is provided by Celeste Catering, and the Karrakatta Café, just inside the Railway Road entrance, takes group bookings.
Is there a crematorium at Karrakatta?
Yes. Karrakatta has had a crematorium since 1937, and it is one of three MCB sites in Perth that carry out cremations, alongside Fremantle Cemetery and Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park.
Most cremations at Karrakatta begin with a service in one of the chapels, which ends with the committal of the coffin. A viewing room is available if family members wish to be present for the committal, and this is arranged through your funeral director. Decorative urns and containers for ashes can be viewed at the Karrakatta office.
If you are still deciding between the two, our guide to cremation vs burial in Perth compares cost and practicalities, and our cremations page explains each option.
Burial options at Karrakatta
Karrakatta offers lawn graves, denominational sections, a children’s area, mausoleum crypts and an ossuary. Which one suits your family depends on faith, tradition and the kind of memorial you want.
Lawn and denominational areas
The older parts of Karrakatta are divided into denominational areas, and MCB says these represent 37 religious or ethnic groups. Newer areas are generally non-denominational. In the lawn areas, headstones can be up to 1.05 metres high.
Children’s burial area
There is a dedicated burial area for children up to 13 years of age, with headstones up to 900 mm high. A children’s memorial garden sits nearby, and an Infant’s Butterfly Garden offers memorials for children up to six.
Mausoleums and the ossuary
For families who prefer entombment above ground, Karrakatta has two mausoleums. The Karrakatta Mausoleum, opened in 1997, was WA’s first, and the All Saints Mausoleum followed in 2012. MCB advises that crypt availability is now limited, so check with MCB or your funeral director early. Karrakatta also has an ossuary for cremated remains and for previously buried or entombed remains, and an Aboriginal Keeping Place for the remains of Aboriginal people previously held in museums.
Cemetery renewal
Some older sections of Karrakatta go through MCB’s cemetery renewal program. If you have a family grave in an older section, MCB invites families to register their interest through its contact form, and the cemetery page lists the current submission dates.
Memorial options after a cremation
If your loved one has been cremated, Karrakatta offers a wide range of places to remember them. MCB provides free memorial selection appointments on 1300 793 109.
- Standard Grevillea memorials and traditional rose memorials
- the Tree of Life
- memorial walls
- family shrubs and trees
- the Book of Remembrance
- the Infant’s Butterfly Garden, for children up to six
Current prices are in the MCB memorials brochure. You don’t have to decide straight away. Many families take time before choosing a memorial.
How does a funeral at Karrakatta work?
Your funeral director books the chapel, grave or cremation with MCB and guides you through the day. MCB licenses funeral directors to conduct funerals at its cemeteries, and they are responsible for making the arrangements with the cemetery.
Before the funeral
You meet with your funeral director to choose burial or cremation, the chapel or a graveside service, and the music, readings and any livestream. The funeral director lodges the MCB application, which you sign. MCB’s own advice is to take your time, read any contract carefully and ask which cemetery fees are included.
On the day
MCB limits the funeral cortège to five vehicles: the hearse and four others. The cortège waits at the main driveway, while mourners gather at the waiting house near the café and walk behind the cars to the chapel or graveside. You can check the chapel and time on MCB’s online Today’s Funerals list.
At Gift of Grace Funerals, our burial packages are fixed and GST inclusive: Forever Grace from $11,500, Forever Grace Plus with a chapel and graveside service at $12,500, and Everlasting Grace at $14,000. Families in the inner north can also see our Stirling funeral directors page.
Visiting Karrakatta Cemetery
The grounds are open from dawn to dusk every day. The administration office is open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, and is closed on public holidays. MCB can be reached on 1300 793 109.
- Café: the Karrakatta Café is just inside the main Railway Road entrance.
- Flowers and ornaments: MCB has a flower and ornament policy covering what can be left at a grave or memorial.
- Walk trails: trail maps are available at the Administration Building or online.
How do I find a grave at Karrakatta?
Use the MCB online Name Search. Enter a surname (required) and given names if you know them. It covers MCB burial, cremation and memorial records back to 1899.
Once you have the section details, the Karrakatta maps will help you find your way. If the record is unclear, the office staff can help during business hours. MCB also offers genealogy services, such as copies of older funeral application forms and headstone photos, through its genealogy page.
Saying Goodbye at One of Perth’s Most Historic Cemeteries
Karrakatta has been a place of farewell for Perth families for well over a century. Its chapels, crematorium and wide range of burial and memorial options mean almost any kind of service can be held here, from a large chapel funeral to a quiet graveside goodbye.
Because the grounds are so large, a little planning goes a long way. Check the maps before you visit, use the MCB Name Search to locate a grave, and let your funeral director handle the bookings and timings on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Karrakatta Cemetery?
Karrakatta Cemetery is on Railway Road, Karrakatta WA 6010, about seven kilometres west of the Perth city centre. It can be reached by car or train, and there is parking on Railway Road and inside the grounds.
How many chapels does Karrakatta Cemetery have?
Karrakatta has four chapels. Norfolk is the largest, Brown is medium-sized, Dench is small, and the Garden Chapel is an open-air setting. Each indoor chapel has a condolence lounge.
Is there a crematorium at Karrakatta?
Yes. The Karrakatta crematorium has operated since 1937. Most cremations follow a chapel service, and families can arrange to use the viewing room for the committal through their funeral director.
What are Karrakatta Cemetery’s opening hours?
The cemetery grounds are open from dawn to dusk every day. The administration office is open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, and closed on public holidays.
How many cars can be in a funeral procession at Karrakatta?
MCB limits the funeral cortège at Karrakatta to five vehicles, being the hearse and four other cars. Other mourners can park on Railway Road or in the grounds and gather at the waiting house near the café.
Please note: Details in this guide were checked against Metropolitan Cemeteries Board information at the time of publishing. Facilities, hours and fees can change, so please confirm with the MCB on 1300 793 109 before you visit or book.
Arranging a funeral at Karrakatta?
Gift of Grace Funerals is a family-owned funeral home in O’Connor, arranging burials and cremations at cemeteries across Perth with clear, fixed pricing. We’re here 24 hours a day.
