Project Cultivate
The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is undertaking horticultural works aimed at enhancing the natural landscapes of our historical cemetery sites.
Enhancing the natural environment 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.
The current phase of the project, supported by matched funding from the City of Melbourne’s Urban Forest Fund will install 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!
Sustainability Award Winner
In October the project was announced as the winner of the 2024 Tidy Cities Sustainability AwardsExternal site in the environment category.
The Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Awards from Keep Australia Beautiful (Victoria) celebrate inspiring community-led sustainability projects.
Community Planting Day
Our Planet ARK/SMCT Community Planting Day on 12 October at Melbourne General Cemetery was amazing! With the help of around 80 volunteers, we were able to plant an additional 2,150 locally native wildflowers and groundcovers, introducing 10 new species to the Project Cultivate grassland! It was heartwarming to witness such positive engagement and a genuine passion from the local community to preserving and enhancing our natural environment.
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:
Update on the pilot at Melbourne General Cemetery
- 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
Praise for Project Cultivate
Project Cultivate on ABC Radio National External site- Hear from Tanya Davidge (Open House Melbourne) appearing on ABC Radio National. Interview by Nick Triggle, BBC Health Correspondent.
Project Cultivate in Landscape Australia Magazine External site- Emma-Sheppard-Simms from Landscape Australia talks on the impacts of Project Cultivate.
Project Cultivate on ABC Radio MelbourneExternal site - Listen to ABC Radio's The Conversation Hour as they discuss Project Cultivate.
- ACCA News External site- Project Cultivate featured in Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association News Autumn 2024 Issue (Page 18-19)
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 factsheet download
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 Sheet External 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.
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 surveyExternal site.
For more information, please contact us at environment@smct.org.au
Recommended pages
Meet the plants of Project Cultivate
- 11 January 2024
Since March 2023, the Project Cultivate team has been working to convert significant areas of barren, compacted clay soil across Melbourne General Cemetery (MGC) into a flourishing green space by laying mulch and planting more than 120,000 indigenous plants.
- Project
Melbourne General Cemetery
The first Victorian cemetery designed as a public park, known for its central location, notable interments, heritage-listed Gate House, and Prime Ministers’ Garden.