Project Cultivate

Visit Project Cultivate at Melbourne General CemeteryExternal site   Visit Project Cultivate at St Kilda Cemetery External site

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) has initiated an innovative approach to horticultural works aimed at enhancing the natural landscapes of our historical cemetery sites.

Known as Project Cultivate, the works involve planting locally native wildflowers, groundcovers, shrubs, 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 Custodians, the award-winning approach establishes beautiful,  biodiverse cemetery environments that can be sustainably maintained.

Cultivating a Cemetery - Gardening Australia

View this video and article on Gardening AustraliaExternal site.

Project Cultivate aims to improve visitor experiences while enhancing the natural environment of our historical cemetery sites. The project also strives to drive meaningful conversations about sustainability and revegetation, hoping to create a shared vision for the horticultural future of Victorian cemeteries.

Since launching in early 2023, the initiative has transformed the landscape of Melbourne General Cemetery (MGC) from barren soil to thriving native ecosystems.

The approach will now be applied to St Kilda Cemetery, where engagement with families, the Bunurong Land Council, City of Port Phillip and the local community will help inform the locally native planting selections.

For more information about the project, visit;

Horticultural works to enhance the natural landscapes of St Kilda Cemetery have started. This project builds on our commitment to sustainability and community wellbeing. Working together with Traditional Custodians, we will introduce native species to increase biodiversity at this beautiful site. To find out more or get involved in citizen science, educational projects or community planting days, visit Project Cultivate at St Kilda CemeteryExternal site.

Since May 2023, Project Cultivate has been increasing diversity at Melbourne General Cemetery. The Project won the 2024 Tidy Cities Sustainability Award and was nominated for the prestigious national Banksia Environment Award. Over 500,000 native plants have been added through the project, increasing biodiversity and improving the community amenity of this beautiful site. To get involved in community planting days, citizen science or other activities at Melbourne General Cemetery, or find out more about what’s happening on site, please visit Project Cultivate at Melbourne General CemeteryExternal site.

For school or stakeholder engagement, please contact the Environment team at environment@smct.org.au

Enhancing the natural environment of our historical cemetery sites

Working in collaboration with Traditional Custodians and community, Project Cultivate added more than 500,000 native grasses, wildflowers and groundcovers to Melbourne General Cemetery over two years. The final phase of planting was conducted in partnership with the City of Melbourne with matched funding through the Urban Forest Fund.

Benefits of the program

• Reduction in herbicide use. At MGC , we’ve achieved over 95% reduction in herbicide use 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.

The program also provides opportunities for citizen science, planting days and activities, engagement with Traditional Custodians and the community, and education and research for schools and tertiary institutions.

For school or stakeholder engagement, please contact the Environment team at environment@smct.org.au

• Download Tree Planting at Cemeteries Fact Sheet External site- Explore the challenges of tree planting at Melbourne General Cemetery and the innovative solutions shaping sustainable revegetation.

• Download Project Overview Fact SheetExternal site- The following project overview infographic provides convenient information about Project Cultivate.

• Download Sustainable Planting Fact SheetExternal site - Discover why Melbourne General Cemetery is planting native and indigenous species.

• Download Mulching Fact SheetExternal site- Discover the benefits of using the right organic mulch to enhance large landscapes like Melbourne General Cemetery.

• Download Community Research Fact SheetExternal site- Explore the Project Cultivate research that helped us understand community expectations.