Northam Cemetery is the final resting place of many children, such as the children of migrants such as the Afghan camel drivers and Chinese market gardeners and labourers. The burials of Chinese people date from the turn of the twentieth century and are located in a distinct line to the west of the Catholic section. The Chinese section of Northam Cemetery is the only such section of this type in any cemetery located in the Avon Valley.

These provide a glimpse into the life of these migrants as well as their contact with Europeans. For example, buried at Northam are Ah How Ada Lottie aged 3 years old and Ah Lum Lily aged 4 months. Lottie was the daughter of Charles Ah How and Florance Harford, and Lily the daughter of James Ah Lum and Katherine Latchford.

Jan James, nee Goodacre, was a historian and geneologist, and the caretaker of the Northam Cemetery for many years. Over a period of 30 years, Jan gathered, researched, compiled and transcribed what is regarded as Australia's most significant collection of Aboriginal records and photographs. Both Jan's research for 'A Guide to Northam Cemetery' and investigation by the Heritage Council of WA were unable to determine whether Aboriginal persons were also buried at the cemetery prior to the late 20th century.

Records accessed did not indicate a separate section for Aboriginal use prior to the last 30 years. Comments from local Ballardong Noongar people state that ground burial with headstones or grave markers was not traditional practice as they have strict traditions prohibiting the viewing of or speaking the names of people who have passed away. This practice, often related to "Sorry Business," aims to respect the deceased's journey to the afterlife.

Northam Cemetary Caretaker Mrs. James took a strong interest in the burials of children, stillborn and neo-natal babies. It was at her instigation and as a result of her labour that a number of memorial gardens were subsequently established in Northam Cemetery. The first was the Children's Garden of Remembrance which was created in 1993. Planted and built by Mrs. James, the garden is in memory to the 1,250 unmarked graves of children who died prior to 1950. The grave of 3 year old Lila Shah who died of diphtheria in 1916 was chosen as the site of the memorial as a symbol of the multicultural history of the Northam area. Lila was the daughter of an Afghan travelling salesperson and her grave faces Mecca.

In 1994, a multi-denominational burial service was held at Eden Park. Eden Park is the resting place for neo-natal and stillborn babies, who died between 1950 and 1975. The name tags to identify the children‘s graves in this section were donated by the Northam Rotary Club and made possible through Jan's research.

Northam Cemetery contains the remains of seven generations of the local community and these represent people from various socio economic and ethnic backgrounds. They include prominent individuals and families such as the Throssells, Chidlows, and Byfields who have been significant in the history of the State, as well as convicts, farmers, labourers, midwives, nuns, migrants, suicides, children and stillborn and neo-natal babies.

Due to its long period of use, Northam Cemetery reflects the impact of local and world events on a local community, including the death of pioneers, outbreaks of disease, treatment of Ballardong Noongar people, lives of servicemen from two World Wars, and arrival of migrants from the period following the second World War.

There is a lot more that can be said about the Northam Cemetery, if you are interested in knowing more, read the Heritage Council of WA Assessment of the Cemetery or visit the Northam Library to read Jan's guide.