Threat to Stirling grave
The grave of WA's founder Capt. James Stirling has fallen into disrepair and could be dug up, but the State Government has pledged to honour him with a memorial.
Stirling, who founded the Swan River colony in 1829 and became its first governor, died in April 1865 and was buried at St John's Stoke Church, Guildford, in the English county of Surrey alongside his wife Ellen.
The Church of England has applied to deconsecrate and sell off its western churchyard, where the Stirling graves are located, to fund an extension to the church.
The plan, which is out for public consultation until tomorrow, includes exhuming, cremating and reburying the remains found within all affected graves.
Though the WA Government does not have authority over the grave, it has contacted Stirling family members over several years to offer assistance with relocating his remains.
That offer has not been taken up but some funding has been provided to help with the clean-up of the site.
Premier Colin Barnett said the Government was seeking to clarify the Church's intentions.
"If the gravesite is affected, we (the State Government) will seek to provide assistance to Capt. Stirling's descendants to ensure his remains are relocated to a suitable memorial that reflects his role in history," he said.
Heritage Perth executive director Richard Offen said while it would not be appropriate for West Australians to get too involved in what appeared to be a spat between local residents and the Church of England, new evidence suggested that it was now known almost exactly where Stirling and his wife Ellen were interred.
A diocese of Guildford spokesman said St John's Stoke was "aware of the historical link" with Stirling and his significance to WA as it welcomed visitors throughout the year to view the relocated headstone.
"As far as we understand, the exact whereabouts of Sir James now are unknown, although his family believe that they are on the east side . . . rather than in the land which is in question here," he said.
