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Did you know that Colonel William Light included a public cemetery in his original plan of the city of Adelaide? It was on West Terrace and although we’re not sure who the first undertaker was to conduct a funeral there, it may have been Joseph Bell who imported the first hearse into the colony. Sadly, the hearse was used for the first time in 1839 to convey the remains of Colonel Light to Light Square following his death.   

Plan of Adelaide, by Colonel William Light. SLSA: C-856

Close up of the Cemetery in the Plan of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, surveyed and drawn by Colonel Light, 1837. SLSA: C 856  

Plan of Adelaide, cropped to show the cemetery

Close up of the Cemetery in the Plan of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, surveyed and drawn by Colonel Light, 1837. SLSA: C 856  

A photograph of a painting of Colonel William Light, SLSA: B 6704

A photograph of a painting of Colonel William Light. SLSA: B 6704  

Horse-drawn hearse, 1900. SLSA 19180

This image shows an example of a horse-hearse in 1900. Horse-drawn hearse, 1900. SLSA 19180  

Image of Joseph Bell, from the book 'Bell Family 1728-1986

Image of Joseph Bell taken from the ‘Bell Family 1728-1986'. SLSA: 929.2099.423 B433.B 

A notice written by Robert Gouger and Charles Sturt about the death of Colonel Light.

A notice written by Robert Gouger and Charles Sturt about the death of Colonel Light. The Southern Australian, Wednesday 9 Oct 1839. Trove, NLA  

Invoice for William Light's funeral written by Joseph Bell.

Invoice from Joseph Bell for William Light’s funeral expenses, dated 29 October 1839. The invoice is for 155 pounds, 3 shillings and 6 pence and includes lead coffin, 54 crepe hat bands, 46 pairs gloves, and cost of vault. SLSA: PRG 1/3/157 

 

Plan of Adelaide, by Colonel William Light. SLSA: C-856
Plan of Adelaide, cropped to show the cemetery
A photograph of a painting of Colonel William Light, SLSA: B 6704
Horse-drawn hearse, 1900. SLSA 19180
Image of Joseph Bell, from the book 'Bell Family 1728-1986
A notice written by Robert Gouger and Charles Sturt about the death of Colonel Light.
Invoice for William Light's funeral written by Joseph Bell.

At this time undertaking wasn’t talked about as it was seen as poor form to rely on the misery of others for your income. Instead, a carpenter, furniture maker or builder was given the “undertaking” to make a coffin after death and any business with a horse and cart could be used to carry out a funeral.  

Horsedrawn Funeral cortege, Tod Street, outside the premises of Taylor & Forgie builders and undertakers. SLSA: B 47014

Horse-drawn Funeral cortege, Tod Street, outside the premises of Taylor and Forgie builders and undertakers. SLSA: B 47014 

Aldinga Blacksmith. SLSA: B 21699

Smithy and the premises of T. Pengilly, Coach-Builder and Furnishing Undertaker with cottage in Aldinga. There is a small group of workmen and children with a chassis of, possibly, a baker's cart. SLSA: B 21699 

Image of the George Farr shop in Port Augusta. SLSA: B 9293/4

View of the shop from which George Farr, undertaker, joiner and cabinet maker, worked. The building was located in Commercial Road, Port Augusta. SLSA: B 9293/4 

Horsedrawn Funeral cortege, Tod Street, outside the premises of Taylor & Forgie builders and undertakers. SLSA: B 47014
Aldinga Blacksmith. SLSA: B 21699
Image of the George Farr shop in Port Augusta. SLSA: B 9293/4

In 1854 a 25-year-old Phillip Le Cornu migrated to South Australia from Jersey in the Channel Islands. In 1861 he leased a small shop and stable on O’Connell Street in North Adelaide and started to produce furniture, with a coffin making and undertaking business on the side. Le Cornu’s was until very recently still operating as a furniture store here in Adelaide. 

The premise of P. Le Cornu, Cabinet Maker, General Dealer and Undertaker on the corner of O’Connell Street and Archer Street, North Adelaide, 1881.SLSA: B 10719
The premise of P. Le Cornu, Cabinet Maker, General Dealer and Undertaker on the corner of O’Connell Street and Archer Street, North Adelaide, 1881.SLSA: B 10719  

Also in 1854, a morgue or 'dead house' was built at the West Terrace site, but it was plagued by stories of vermin and dirty working conditions, so it was demolished in the late 1920s. If a death was questionable an inquest would be held, but these happened in hotels rather than the morgue because hotels had cool rooms where a body could be stored.  

Newspaper article about bodies at the city morgue, The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide. 21 April 1908. Trove: NLA

“The City Morgue. Bodies eaten by vermin” The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide. 21 April 1908. Trove: NLA

The Old Morgue Building in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. SLSA: B 71766/20

The Old Morgue Building in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Photo taken by and part of the Messenger Press Collection. Circa 1900-2000. SLSA: B 71766/20  

Newspaper article about bodies at the city morgue, The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide. 21 April 1908. Trove: NLA
The Old Morgue Building in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. SLSA: B 71766/20

A crematorium opened at the West Terrace cemetery in 1902 and was the first crematorium in the southern hemisphere. For the next 20 years, this was the only crematorium in Australia and accommodated people from all over Australia, before being demolished in 1969.  

Laying of the foundation stone of the crematorium, The Adelaide Observer, 25 Oct 1902. Trove: NLA

Laying of the foundation stone of the crematorium, The Adelaide Observer, 25 Oct 1902. Trove: NLA  

A notice in The Advertiser, Thu 16 Oct 1902 about the foundation stone being laid. Trove: NLA

A notice in The Advertiser, Thu 16 Oct 1902 about the foundation stone being laid. Trove: NLA 

Adelaide, compiled by WH and RJ Edmunds, 1936. In this map the morgue is featured in the cemetery in the lower left-hand corner. SLSA: C 228/1

Adelaide, compiled by WH and RJ Edmunds, 1936. In this map the morgue is featured in the cemetery in the lower left-hand corner. SLSA: C 228/1  

Laying of the foundation stone of the crematorium, The Adelaide Observer, 25 Oct 1902. Trove: NLA
A notice in The Advertiser, Thu 16 Oct 1902 about the foundation stone being laid. Trove: NLA
Adelaide, compiled by WH and RJ Edmunds, 1936. In this map the morgue is featured in the cemetery in the lower left-hand corner. SLSA: C 228/1

In 1919 Adelaide witnessed its first motor funeral for Lieutenant Loyal George Cherry who had crashed while attempting to set a motorcycle and sidecar speed record between Adelaide and Melbourne. Turner Motor Funerals capitalised on this interest in motor funerals and although the word ‘motor’ was removed in 1976, Turner funerals still operate in Adelaide today.  

More to explore 

If you would like to find out more about the undertaking business in South Australia or read about the many interesting people buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, there are some great books in the upstairs general reading area of the State Library of South Australia. Robert Nicol is Adelaide’s premier cemetery historian and has written at least 13 books including the classic ‘At the end of the road’, or you could read Carol Lefevre’s book ‘Quiet city’ which tells stories of the people you can encounter walking in West Terrace Cemetery.   

William Light, 1786-1839, Miscellaneous papers 

Explore photographs in the collection relating to Undertakers 

Explore photographs in the collection relating to Hearses