The current Leonora cemetery sits on the outskirts of town, just off the Goldfields Hwy on the way to Kalgoorlie. In the 1990s, graves from the King of the Hills Cemetery were also moved to this cemetery when mining became active in the area.
The Cemetery is a historic site and holds the graves of many of those who died working on the Sons of Gwalia Mine.
The large sculpture at the entrance of the cemetery was commissioned by the Leonora Council in 2010. The brief was to create a piece that would complement the area and reflect the community’s indigenous community, pastoralists, mining and explorers.
Artist Paul Trinidad used wrought iron to cut and construct the form with iron sourced from the Sons of Gwalia foundry. The shape resembles a Mulga seedling emerging from the ground.
Acacia Aneura commonly known as Mulga, is a key signifier of country.
The work also serves as a marker for true north and is also guide to the time of day when the sun is up!
He states: “The work is a physical and spiritual marker, connecting earth with the heavens.” “I hope this work captures the spirit of country and community.”
