The West Terrace Cemetery and more!

G S Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23)

Did you know that the West Terrace Cemetery is Adelaide’s oldest cemetery and the oldest metropolitan cemetery still operating in Australia?

Kingston Gardens, City of Adelaide Archives, HP1330, circa 1928

George Strickland Kingston

West Terrace Playground, City of Adelaide Archives, HP1558, circa 1928

The West Terrace Cemetery is the main feature of this Park, and a fascinating place to visit. But there is also more to see and do.

In Kingston Gardens, the bandstand erected in 1909 reflected a desire for Council to improve the west Park Lands which were then leased for the grazing of 200-600 sheep to keep the grass down. The newspaper at the time reported that “in due course of time the West Terrace rotunda reserve should be as pleasing to the eye as either Pennington or Osmond Park”. The newly developed garden was named ‘Kingston Park’ in honour of Deputy Surveyor and politician George Strickland Kingston.

The West Terrace Playground was opened in 1924, around the time the Glover Playgrounds were developed in other parts of the Park Lands. All reflected a growing interest in child welfare and the need for inner-city children to have safe places to play.

The Kaurna people are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Wirrarninthi is a word from the Kaurna language which means “to become transformed into a green, forested area” and the Park has been revegetated with native vegetation and protected indigenous flora. The Kaurna language was last spoken on a daily basis in the 1860s and has been revived in recent times.

If you would like to explore the Park further, go down Sir Donald Bradman Drive where you will see the sign for the Wirrarninthi Interpretive Trail. This trail helps you explore the more remote parts of the Park Lands.

City of Adelaide acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today. We also extend that respect to other Aboriginal Language Groups and other First Nations.

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