Cemeteries are an important part of our heritage. They are a historical record of local communities, and in some cases, an important record of significance to the whole of Australia. The memorials document the country’s growth, recording important events or periods in the history of a district. Unlike most other histories, burial grounds document the lives of all, rich or poor, prominent or humble. Cemeteries often contain information not able to be found in written records, which may be absent, lost or destroyed. Headstones reveal pioneers’ names, trends in names, occupations, circumstances of death, life expectancy, geographical origins, achievements, and a whole range of religious values and emotional reactions. Cemeteries are also notable for their cultural landscape values and layout, buildings and structures, and trees and plants. Thus they are a unique historic environment – no other historic places display these elements and values in such a combination.
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) staff and volunteers regularly conduct tours of our cemeteries to provide the public with an educational and interesting experience, to promote the numerous cultural and heritage values of these sites, and to raise funds for their maintenance. The night tours of the Melbourne General Cemetery, one of the most important cemeteries in Australia, are very popular and are conducted three times a year: Midsummer (late February), Full Moon (April/May) and Halloween (31 October). We also regularly conduct tours of the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, a world-class crematorium and cemetery which was established in 1901.
Click on any of the below links to read more:
Learn more about our 2012 Springvale Botanical Cemetery Day Tours
Learn more about our 2012 Melbourne General Cemetery Night Tours
Explore our historical Gate Lodge during the Melbourne Open House weekend