Melbourne's burial crisis sparks massive new cemetery
Melbourne cemeteries are nearly full. Authorities are building a 128-hectare site in Harkness that will open mid-2027.
Burial grounds across Melbourne are running out of space. Most memorial parks run by the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust are full or nearly full.
Regulations changed last October to squeeze in more graves. Some sites are pushing to reuse graves after a certain period.
The new 128-hectare cemetery in Harkness near Melton will provide 140,000 burials when it opens mid-2027. A second site is proposed in Bangholme in the outer south-east.
For Melbourne's Muslim community, the shortage is especially urgent. The closest suitable burial grounds are currently in Bacchus Marsh and Lara.
- 128 hectares
- New cemetery size
- 140,000 interments
- Burial capacity
- mid-2027
- Opening date
- 11,400
- Islamic residents near Melton
Why it mattersFamilies need local cemetery options for funerals and visits. This is especially important for those with religious burial traditions.
AustraliaMelbourne residents will soon have closer cemetery options, with the Harkness site easing pressure on inner-city graveyards.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 5 d ago
