Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

21/12/2025

Holiday opening hours:
Our grounds remain open every day for you to visit your loved ones. Please note our office and café hours may vary over the public holidays.
View full details here: www.smct.org.au/locations

19/12/2025

We’re taking a short festive break🎄 Responses may take a little longer than usual, but we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. For anything urgent, please call 1300 466 904 or submit a contact form: www.smct.org.au/contact-us.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!

We appreciate your interest in Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT). Please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and quick links on the previous page which may assist you with your enquiry prior to getting in touch with us.

15/12/2025

For many, December is a time of joy. For others, it is a time of remembrance. If you are finding this month difficult, please know you are not alone.We have compiled resources to support you through the season: https://www.smct.org.au/blog/easing-grief-through-planning-supporting-families-before-during-and-after-loss

11/12/2025

On Sunday, we gathered at Bunurong Memorial Park for our Children's Remembrance service, a tradition now 20 years strong, and one that means the world to us.

What began as a small Christmas gathering has grown into something truly special. Families came together to write messages on our floral tribute wall, light lanterns and find comfort in music and quiet moments of reflection for children who left us far too soon.

Our CEO Ingrid Harvey shared, “We stand together as a community, offering strength and unwavering support during what can be a difficult time of the year. Please know you are not alone in your grief. This service is for you.”

To every family who joined us on Sunday and to all those who have been part of the journey over the past two decades, thank you. ❤️

10/12/2025

Did you know, you can now book an appointment with us online?

Our team is here to guide you in choosing a burial or cremation memorial that honours your loved one's life and legacy. You can book for:

* Collecting ashes
* Collecting ashes with urn purchase
* Purchasing a grave
* Purchasing a location for ashes

Book an appointment to talk with us: my.smct.org.au/new-appointment

09/12/2025

A meaningful memorial plaque tells your loved one’s unique story. Each plaque is a bespoke tribute - individual and personal, yet forever part of the family. But how do you organise a plaque? Read on to find out: www.smct.org.au/services/plaques

08/12/2025

A cremation memorial offers a profound and meaningful way to celebrate a life well-lived. Our memorials are available in a variety of traditional and contemporary styles, thoughtfully placed throughout our peaceful gardens and grounds to reflect personal values, cultural traditions, and the unique legacy of each individual.

You can choose from a variety of cremation memorial options, including:
* Scattered in a peaceful garden
* Rose, shrub and tree memorials
* Cremation urns
* Token memorials

Learn more about cremation memorials: https://www.smct.org.au/services/cremation-options

08/12/2025

Due to recent weather, our lawns and gardens have been growing faster than usual! Our teams are working hard to keep everything looking beautiful. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we catch up.

04/12/2025

🌱Beautiful gardens begin with healthy soil, and mulch plays an important role in making that happen.

We're celebrating World Soil Day today and the hard work done by organic mulch at Melbourne General Cemetery.

Since May 2023 we've added more than 5,400m3 of mulch through Project Cultivate to improve soil conditions, suppress weeds and prepare the ground for planting indigenous flowers, grasses and groundcovers. 🌺🌿🌳

The result: improved soil quality, thriving biodiversity, reduced erosion, runoff, and water pooling, and a thriving native grassland in the heart of the city. 🏆

You can do something similar at home:
✅ W**d and water the soil before mulching, and water lightly again after applying to help it settle.
✅ Apply a 5–7 cm layer around plants, keeping mulch slightly away from stems to prevent rot.
✅ Use coarse organic mulches (woodchips, bark, straw) for long-lasting coverage.
✅ Top up yearly as mulch breaks down or becomes patchy.

These simple steps help create thriving, sustainable gardens. 💚 What's your best healthy garden tip?

Thank you for supporting our efforts to create healthy, sustainable spaces for everyone to enjoy. For more information on Project Cultivate visit engagewith.smct.org.au/cultivate-mgc or watch the video below for a throwback to 2023 to see the impact mulch has had on the soil for Project Cultivate at MGC.

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

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.