Project Cultivate

Enhancing the natural environment of our historical cemetery sites

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is undertaking horticultural works aimed at enhancing the natural landscapes of our historical cemetery sites.

Known as Project Cultivate, the works involve planting locally native plants and grasses to revitalise cemetery sites while complementing surrounding monuments, pathways and facilities. Carried out in consultation with stakeholders including families, the local community and Traditional Owners, the project is succeeding in establishing a beautiful biodiverse environment that can be sustainably maintained.

October Community Planting Day Video

Update on the pilot at Melbourne General Cemetery

An exploratory pilot at Melbourne General Cemetery (MGC) commenced in May 2023. In the first two phases of the project, we have planted over 250,000 locally native grasses, wildflowers and groundcovers, of 19 different species. These works have already benefited the cemetery in many ways, including:

• Over 70% reduction in herbicide use. By the project’s completion and plant establishment, we anticipate a 97% reduction in herbicide usage across the site.
• 3°C reduction in ambient air temperature around mulched and planted areas.
• Improved soil quality and reduction in erosion, runoff and water pooling.
• Small birds using grasslands for gathering nesting materials and feeding.
• Increased insect activity including grasshoppers, moths, and native bees, butterflies and beneficial insects.
• Increase in Blue-tongued lizard population.
• Plants dropping and spreading seed, propagating themselves and creating a self-sustaining population.
• At the conclusion of the current phase of this project, we will have planted 58% of the suitable areas of the cemetery.
• We will be installing another 2234m3 of organic mulch and a staggering 245,965 indigenous grassland plants to the remaining 23.42 acres of the site suitable for Project Cultivate. This will bring the number of indigenous plants installed at MGC to a half a million!

Watch our plants grow over the last year

The story of Project Cultivate, featuring Costa Georgiadis

What’s been happening on the grounds

• Early 2023: Holders of Rights received a notification of the works and an invitation to provide feedback. A first wave of research was conducted, with respondents rating the proposed changes 8.1 out of 9, demonstrating positive community feedback.
  
• May 2023: Intimate Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country held with Traditional Owners, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.14,000 wheelbarrows worth of mulch laid to improve soil quality on site.
  
• August 2023: 127,000 indigenous grasses, flowers and groundcovers of 19 different species planted throughout the cemetery grounds, minimising erosion, suppress weeds, and creating a natural biodiverse environment.
  
• October 2023: Planting days held with community groups, schools and local MPs.
• November 2023: Mulch installation commenced for second phase of the project, with close to 1,800m3 of mulch installed.
• February 2024: Event held at Melbourne General Cemetery with community, Traditional Owners and key project partners to celebrate the successful pilot, featuring presentations from SMCT, Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, and Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis.
  
• March 2024: Planting commences in the second area of the project.
• April 2024: Second wave research report conducted, with 87% of respondents rating the changes on site positively.
• May 2024: Project Cultivate receives $500,000 of matched grant funding from The City of Melbourne to see the project through to completion.
• June 2024: Project Cultivate is shortlisted in the 2024 Tidy Towns & Cities Sustainability Awards, in the environment category.
• July 2024: The second stage of the project (Phase 1B) has nearly been completed, with an additional 135,000 plants installed.
• September 2024: Commencement of the third and final stage (Phase 1C) of the project, in partnership with the City of Melbourne.
• October 2024: Project Cultivate was announced as the winner of the 2024 Tidy Cities Sustainability Awards in the environment category.
• November 2024: Mulching commenced in Project Cultivate Phase 1C areas
• February 2025: Project Cultivate is named a finalist in the National Banksia Sustainability Awards 2025 in recognition of its positive impact on biodiversity.
• March 2025: Mulching in Phase 1C areas has been completed, with planting set to commence in mid-Autumn.

Visitors can continue to access Melbourne General Cemetery throughout the pilot and will be provided with detours for any temporary path closures while works are underway.

About the project

Click each fact sheet to view

Have your say

We want to know how our communities want to see, feel, visit and experience our historical cemetery spaces and will use this research to guide our long-term planning. We encourage you to have your say and complete the survey.