Connecting through our past

The stories of those who walked before us are being kept alive and told to a new generation, thanks to the Library’s “Barossa Cemeteries” initiative and a group of volunteers who share a love of local history.

The new online digital database launches on 27 August, and provides a snapshot of the people who shaped the culture and traditions of the Barossa through their struggles, sorrows, resilience and achievements.

Volunteers, including Anna Schrapel, Jo Mew, Loris Pullen and Jan Burgess have spent many hours on the project over recent years, researching cemeteries, collating information and photographing gravestones with guidance from the library’s history specialists.

For Loris, who grew up in Tanunda, the project has been a journey of discovery.

“It’s brought back so many memories,” Loris says. “People who were just names before, I’ve been able to discover some of their history.

Fellow volunteer, Jan describes a similar experience and values the friendships built during car trips to remote locations.

“It’s been fun,” says Jan. “Each town has its own history...I grew up in Springton so getting to know the people and the history of the church that goes with the cemetery has been really interesting.”

Library Experience Officer Ellouise Crawford says the project brings together information from more than 70 cemeteries and burial places, representing at least 37 towns or locations.

“How often have you walked through a cemetery, read a name and wondered who they were? That’s exactly what we’ve done - created a picture of who is buried there and how they contributed to our community,” says Ellouise.

The project has proven to be much more than an interactive tool for family research.

“There’s also a story-telling aspect to it,” adds Ellouise.

“You get an idea of the history of the cemeteries but then we look into the names of significant people at each cemetery. It’s through those individual experiences we learn more about the cultural fabric of the Barossa.

“I like the idea that we are also photographing some of the old gravestones, recording inscriptions before they’re lost through erosion. Some of the workmanship is just stunning.

“I find cemeteries really beautiful now, they’ve kind of taken on a different meaning for me.”