History

Our Beginnings

In the late 1840’s the original Melbourne Cemetery was situated on the site of Queen Victoria Market.  With the rapid growth of the market, the original Melbourne Cemetery land was in great demand.  In 1850, after many years of deliberation, an Act of the New South Wales Parliament was passed establishing the current Melbourne General Cemetery.  The old cemetery site was eventually closed and remains were relocated.

The site of the cemetery was chosen partially because of its distance from the city and population.  Designed to bring a new style of cemetery to Melbourne, it became the first truly modern Australian cemetery.

Architect, Albert Purchas, designed the winding roadways, irregular gardens and pavilions which were very different to the formal styles of the time.  Purchas’ innovative style, together with the input of botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, has meant that the cemetery is significant for its collection of exotic and indigenous species and its free flowing design.