They provide access to burial records, headstone photographs, memorial inscriptions, and cemetery information that may otherwise be difficult to find.

Websites such as Australian Cemeteries Index, BillionGraves, Find a Grave, Lorraine’s Oz Burials, and OzGenOnline are widely used for genealogy and historical research. Many rely on volunteer contributions to photograph headstones, transcribe inscriptions, and preserve local history.

Please note: This project contains links to third-party websites for information and convenience purposes only.

The Barossa Council does not control, endorse, or guarantee the accuracy and completeness of information contained on external websites.

This project brings together information on the cemeteries and burial places of the Barossa and surrounding districts. It is a story of people, places, and community — of struggle and sorrow, but also resilience and achievement, culture and tradition.

For thousands of years, the land now known as the Barossa, has been the spiritual and physical home of the Peramangk, Ngadjuri, and Kaurna people.

In the late 1830s, during the broader European settlement of South Australia, Lyndoch became the first European settlement of the Barossa. In 1842, a group of Silesian Lutherans, led by Pastor August Kavel, established themselves in Bethany. Other German (Prussian) families settled at Hoffnungsthal, near Lyndoch, before flooding forced them to reestablish their livelihoods in nearby villages and townships.

The Lutheran cemeteries of Bethany, Hoffnungsthal and Langmeil (at Tanunda) are the oldest private cemeteries of the Barossa.

Angaston, first as German Pass then Angas Town, was also established during this time by a mix of German and English settlers. Its cemetery (today known as the Old Angaston Pioneer Cemetery) was used from 1847, making it the oldest public cemetery in the region.

Over time, many nationalities contributed to the growth of local towns and communities.

Today, the cemeteries of the Barossa provide insight into these early settler stories. Through gravestone symbols, inscriptions, religious passages, names, and dates, they offer enduring connections to the people who shaped the region.

It is hoped the Barossa Cemeteries Heritage Resource will encourage reflection on the past, foster a deeper connection with the region’s culture, and inspire those interested in research, learning, and discovery.

“Everyone, deep down within, carries a small cemetery of those he has loved.”

^{— Romain Rolland (1866–1944)}

Click through on the pages to the right to view cemetery information. There are more than 70 cemeteries featured across 37 towns or localities. Scroll down on a post to see all cemeteries for that particular location.

Display colour indicates the relevant local government region:

Barossa = Green

Light Regional = Yellow

Mid Murray = Blue

The Cemeteries Act 1864 introduced a more formal framework for the establishment, management and regulation of cemeteries across the colony. However, many earlier burial grounds continued to operate under existing local arrangements, and records from the period before the Act may be incomplete, lost, or never have been created.

Local Government

Regional councils maintain many historic and active cemeteries. The Barossa Council is responsible for seven operational cemeteries located in Angaston, Eden Valley, Lyndoch, Mount Crawford, Mount Pleasant, Nuriootpa and Williamstown.

Cemetery record search facilities are available online at each relevant council website.

Church

Historically many cemeteries were associated with a church, and usually they were located within the same locality. At times of church closures, care and management may have moved to local government.

Family

Privately owned cemeteries and mausoleums are rarely accessible to the general public. These facilities are included here to show the diversity of burial options, and to help with ancestral research.

Community

Some cemeteries are owned or managed by community organisations, trusts, or local committees rather than councils or churches. These cemeteries are often maintained through the efforts of volunteers and community groups dedicated to preserving local heritage.

Examples include South Rhine Cemetery and the Rowland Flat Cemetery Trust.

Notice details that need correction, or have additions to recommend? Please let us know by emailing: history@barossa.sa.gov.au