Historic cemetery gets TLC

Albany Memorial Park Cemetery will get a facelift in coming months after funding was received for restoration works.

The Great Southern Development Commission approved $46,000 Royalties for Regions funding to support the $105,000 restoration project.

Albany Cemetery Board chairman Bill Roth said the money would go towards the removal and re-planting of trees, installation of fencing and bollards, and the restoration of deteriorating headstones pending approval from the Heritage Council and the City of Albany.

GSDC chief executive Bruce Manning said the historic cemetery was long overdue for some care and attention.

But Mr Roth said the funding was only the beginning of an extensive restorative process.

“It will be a drop in the ocean, because we are looking at approximately $250,000 to $300,000 in costs depending on what the headstones look like when we really get into them,” he said.

“Being heritage-listed, we can’t put new stone into any headstones, we have to put in pins and glue it to put it back together again.

"It is painstaking, time-consuming work, but the funding will be a tremendous help.”