Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is a community based, not-for-profit organisation c

Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust ( SMCT) is a public entity reporting to the Minister for Health, purposed with providing cemetery, cremation and related support services to the community on the government’s behalf.

Children's Remembrance ServiceThe festive season can be a particularly tender time for families navigating grief. We war...
01/12/2025

Children's Remembrance Service
The festive season can be a particularly tender time for families navigating grief.
We warmly invite you to our annual Children’s Remembrance Service, a gentle and supportive space to come together to honour and celebrate the children we love and remember.

This special service is open to all families who have experienced the loss of a child of any age, and for all members of our community who wish to offer their care and support.

Together, we will recall the star ‘Eternal Light’ star, a symbol of enduring love and remembrance.

Event Details:
Date: Sunday 7 December
Location: Stratus Reflection Space, Bunurong Memorial Park
Time:
4pm: Guests are welcome to arrive
5pm – 5:45pm: Remembrance Service
Until 7pm: Please join us for light refreshments and conversation

This service is held in partnership with community organisations like The Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc.

We are dedicated to the needs of our clients and our people, and our Community Care and Wellbeing (CCW) program is available for ongoing support.

For more details, please visit our website: https://www.smct.org.au/events/childrens-remembrance-service

🌱 Project Cultivate is taking shape at St Kilda Cemetery! 🌱SMCT is pleased to bring Project Cultivate — our award-winnin...
27/11/2025

🌱 Project Cultivate is taking shape at St Kilda Cemetery! 🌱

SMCT is pleased to bring Project Cultivate — our award-winning planting initiative — to the historic and much-cherished St Kilda Cemetery.

Project Cultivate is a community-driven horticultural approach to restoring our historic cemetery grounds into biodiverse native landscapes. It involves planting indigenous flowers, grasses and shrubs to improve the natural environment, enhance visitor experience, and promote sustainability.

The project is about connection, conservation, and community. Together, we’ll explore the stories held within the cemetery’s walls, nurture its natural beauty, and create opportunities for reflection, learning, and community engagement.

Whether you’re a local resident, history buff, nature lover, or simply curious, there are ways for you to get involved in Project Cultivate. Expect community planting days, guided walks, and hands-on activities that celebrate the cemetery’s unique heritage and revitalised ecology.

✨ Let’s cultivate something special — together. Stay tuned for ways to get involved!
For more information, visit https://engagewith.smct.org.au/cultivate-stk

25/11/2025

A friendly notice that our Customer Service Centres will be closed on Thursday 27 November for essential safety training at the following times:

Springvale Botanical Cemetery: Closed 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Bunurong Memorial Park and Melbourne General Cemetery: Closed 9:00am – 12:30pm.

Our Contact Centre will also be unavailable during this time. We will resume normal service immediately after these times.

Thank you for your understanding.

From poppies lining the path to flags at half-mast and wreaths laid with care, every detail created a space for reflecti...
16/11/2025

From poppies lining the path to flags at half-mast and wreaths laid with care, every detail created a space for reflection and connection at last Sunday’s RSL State Remembrance Service.

In the lead up to Remembrance Day, we were honoured to co-host this annual service at the War Cemetery in Springvale Botanical Cemetery. It's a tradition we’ve proudly supported RSL Victoria for over 40 consecutive years.

This year, we welcomed distinguished guests, including the State President of the RSL, Eden Foster MP, senior leaders from the Australian Defence Force, international consuls, Victoria Police, and veteran organisations. We were also joined by community leaders and students, alongside members of our Trust and Executive Leadership Team: Dr Vanda Fortunato, Damian Ramondetta, Con Rodas, and Lucas Robertson.

For those who couldn’t join us in person, a live stream brought the service into homes to make sure everyone could share in the moment.

This service was a solemn tribute to remember and honour fallen servicemen and servicewomen who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. These moments don’t happen by chance, they happen because of all of us.

Your dedication and teamwork made this service meaningful for everyone present and watching from afar. It’s a privilege to collaborate with colleagues who are passionate and dedicated to creating respectful spaces for remembrance.

♻️ National Recycling Week 2025At SMCT, sustainability underpins our approach from our gardens to our operations. Over t...
10/11/2025

♻️ National Recycling Week 2025
At SMCT, sustainability underpins our approach from our gardens to our operations. Over the past year (July 2024 – June 2025), together we’ve made meaningful progress in reducing waste and supporting a cleaner future:
🌿 1,017 tonnes of green organics recycled
📦 10 tonnes of cardboard and paper
🧃 21 tonnes of commingled materials
☕ 3,669 coffee cups recycled through Simply Cups
💻 0.36 tonnes of e-waste
🛢️ 3 tonnes of cooking oil
These achievements reflect the collective effort of our teams and visitors who share our commitment to sustainability. Thank you for helping us make a difference.
From organics bins at our sites, to speed bumps and pads made from recycled materials, we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to reduce our impact.
For more on our recycling initiatives, contact environment@smct.org.au.

RSL Remembrance Day ServiceSMCT is proud to partner with the Victorian RSL to host their Annual Remembrance Day Service ...
05/11/2025

RSL Remembrance Day Service
SMCT is proud to partner with the Victorian RSL to host their Annual Remembrance Day Service at the Australian War Graves at Springvale Botanical Cemetery. The event provides an opportunity to reflect and remember the service and sacrifices of all who have served for our country.

Location: Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Australian War Graves.
Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Time: Formal service commences at 1pm
RSVP: No formal RSVP is required.
Enquiries: care@smct.org.au

🌿Calling all green thumbs! 🌿Project Cultivate, our award-winning initiative to revitalise the landscape at Melbourne Gen...
05/11/2025

🌿Calling all green thumbs! 🌿

Project Cultivate, our award-winning initiative to revitalise the landscape at Melbourne General Cemetery is hitting the small screen.

Tell your friends, family, and fellow green thumbs to tune into Gardening Australia at 7:30 pm this Friday on ABC and iView to see what all the fuss is about.

Discover how we're transforming historic cemetery landscapes - it's beautiful and buzzing with life. We'd love for you to see it.

Read more about Project Cultivate through the link in the comments.

This All Souls Day, we warmly welcome our community to visit our beautiful grounds and mausolea to honour and reflect on...
01/11/2025

This All Souls Day, we warmly welcome our community to visit our beautiful grounds and mausolea to honour and reflect on the memories of your loved ones.

We extend our heartfelt wishes to all who are acknowledging the loss of a loved one during this cherished time of prayer and remembrance.

Our tranquil reflection spaces are open for you to gather and commemorate. While SMCT will not be hosting specific services on the day, many local churches and community groups may be. We recommend contacting your local parish for details on mass times.

We are here to support you during your visit.

Honoured to celebrate 170 years of history at Brighton General Cemetery.We recently marked this incredible milestone wit...
28/10/2025

Honoured to celebrate 170 years of history at Brighton General Cemetery.

We recently marked this incredible milestone with a special event hosted by the dedicated Brighton Cemetorians. It was a wonderful journey into the past, complete with historical tours, a horse-drawn hearse, and volunteers in period attire.

It’s a testament to the passionate community and our team, who show up every day to care for this important part of Melbourne’s heritage. We are so proud to be its custodians.

27/10/2025

A note to our community regarding recent weather:

Following the recent heavy rainfall, our teams are closely monitoring the impact on our grounds. We understand that this weather can sometimes cause grave subsidence (sinking), particularly for recent interments.

We want to reassure you that we are managing this with care. If you visit and find your loved one’s grave has been affected, please contact our support team by phone or email. You can find our contact details at https://www.smct.org.au/contact

Our operations team will then ensure the area is respectfully topped up and cared for as a priority. We thank you for your understanding.

🦜Support bird conservation and take part in the Great Aussie Bird Count this week with SMCT and BirdLife Australia!🐦‍⬛ F...
23/10/2025

🦜Support bird conservation and take part in the Great Aussie Bird Count this week with SMCT and BirdLife Australia!
🐦‍⬛ From Tawny Frogmouths to Fairy Wrens, we’re calling on community members to help count birds of all sizes and species across our sites.

✅ Download the app from www.aussiebirdcount.org.au to register, and spend 20 minutes at one of our beautiful sites to track the birds you see during that time.

✅ Submit your results using the app or the web form. There’s a built-in ‘bird finder’ tool to help you identify birds you don’t recognise.

✅ Tips and other tools are available on the Aussie Bird Count website, and you can count as many times as you want. Each count helps us all understand the biodiversity and living ecosystems in our local areas. 💚

The following photos are from across our cemeteries and memorial parks, including the bird of the year the Tawny Frogmouth. What have you spotted on our sites? 🦜🦆

Address

600 Princes Highway
Springvale, VIC
3171

Telephone

+61385588278

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Our Story

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is a community based, not-for-profit organisation, committed to serving the needs of our communities. Over and above the funeral services we provide, we are committed to guiding families through the most important, long term decisions they will need to make when someone dies.

Our Vision

Our beautiful, iconic locations empower all communities to honour and celebrate life.

We support the living throughout their grief journey, through our innovative approach of personalised care and compassion.