Greenbushes Old Cemetery

The Tragedy of Greenbushes, 1903 - 1910

The following data is compiled from the Blackwood Register of Deaths held by the Clerk of Courts, Manjimup, from Church Records and from long-time residents of Greenbushes. It was supplied by the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes who advise that as the writing was difficult to read there may be discrepancies in the spelling of some names.

A Memorial plaque at the site of the Greenbushes original Cemetery commemorates only some 50% of the total interments. Of the 45 names on the plaque, which includes two sets of twins, 41 are for infants ranging from stillborn (12 events) to 3 years of age. Of those deaths, only one child survived beyond 13 months. Almost half (19) of the deaths occurred in the years 1907/8.

Possible causes of the high incidence of infant mortality at Greenbushes during the early years of the 20th century include Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever and Whooping Cough, all of which were prevalent in the area at one time or another during that period.