# Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) ## About SMCT Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is a Victorian public entity that delivers cemetery, cremation, and related services to the community. Established under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, SMCT reports to the Minister for Health and has been supporting Victorian families since 2010. SMCT operates 11 cemeteries and memorial parks across southern metropolitan Melbourne and south-east Victoria, covering a total of 379 hectares (945 acres). SMCT supports over 12,000 families annually with guidance, care, and respect. SMCT's purpose is to provide compassionate, inclusive, and accessible cemetery and memorial services to all Victorians, regardless of religion, culture, or personal preferences. Website: https://www.smct.org.au Phone: 1300 466 904 Address: 600 Princes Highway, Springvale VIC 3171 ABN: 74 275 063 688 --- ## Cemetery Locations SMCT manages 11 cemeteries and memorial parks across Melbourne's south and south-east, as well as south-east Victoria. ### Springvale Botanical Cemetery - Location: Springvale, VIC - One of Australia's most beautiful cemeteries, spanning 169 hectares of landscaped gardens - Established in 1901, originally known as The Necropolis Springvale - Features Australia's largest memorial rose gardens and approximately 12,000 trees - On-site crematorium, chapels, function rooms, Café Vita et flores, and florist - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/springvale-botanical-cemetery ### Bunurong Memorial Park - Location: Dandenong South, VIC - Contemporary, award-winning memorial park designed to honour and celebrate life for all communities - On-site crematorium, chapels, function rooms, Café Vita et flores, and florist - Offers natural burial options (Murrun Naroon) - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/bunurong-memorial-park ### Melbourne General Cemetery - Location: Carlton, VIC (central Melbourne) - First Victorian cemetery designed as a large public park, established 1852 - Heritage-listed Gate House, Prime Ministers' Garden, notable interments - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/melbourne-general-cemetery ### Brighton General Cemetery - Location: Brighton, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/brighton-general-cemetery ### Cheltenham Memorial Park - Location: Cheltenham, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/cheltenham-memorial-park ### Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery - Location: Cheltenham, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/cheltenham-pioneer-cemetery ### Dandenong Community Cemetery - Location: Dandenong, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/dandenong-community-cemetery ### San Remo Cemetery - Location: San Remo, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/san-remo-cemetery ### Sorrento Community Cemetery - Location: Sorrento, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/sorrento-community-cemetery ### St Kilda Cemetery - Location: St Kilda, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/st-kilda-cemetery ### Wonthaggi Cemetery - Location: Wonthaggi, VIC - URL: https://www.smct.org.au/locations/wonthaggi-cemetery --- ## Services ### Burial Options SMCT offers a range of classic and contemporary in-ground burial options across multiple locations, honouring personal, cultural, and religious preferences. Types of burial available: - Lawn graves (flat markers set in manicured lawns) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park - Headstone graves (personalised memorials with inscriptions and symbolic designs) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park - Monumental graves (custom full gravestone or marble memorials, often arranged by religion or nationality) - multiple locations - Mausoleum crypts (above-ground, architecturally refined resting places) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park, Melbourne General Cemetery - Natural burial / green burial (biodegradable materials, no embalming, dedicated bushland areas) - Bunurong Memorial Park (Murrun Naroon) Pre-planning burial is available, allowing families to secure a burial site and memorial preferences in advance at today's prices. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/burial-options Natural burial URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/burial-options/natural-burials Mausoleum URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/mausoleum-options ### Cremation Options SMCT provides cremation services at on-site crematoriums at Springvale Botanical Cemetery and Bunurong Memorial Park, with a range of memorial options available after cremation. Memorial options after cremation include: - Nature memorials (ashes interred near roses, shrubs, or trees in garden settings) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park, Melbourne General Cemetery, Cheltenham Memorial Park - Exclusive memorials (contemporary and unique cremation memorial options including seat, rock, bridge, and totem memorials) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park, Cheltenham Memorial Park - Scatter gardens (dedicated garden spaces for scattering ashes) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park - Mausoleum niche memorials (ashes placed behind a permanent plaque in a mausoleum) - Melbourne General Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park, Cheltenham Memorial Park - Other niche memorials (ashes held in a permanent niche behind a commemorative plaque) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery - Token memorials (permanent memorial created even if ashes are located elsewhere) - Springvale Botanical Cemetery - Cremation urns (available in various sizes and styles for keepsakes, memorials, scattering, or burial) Cremation witness viewing rooms are available for families who wish to witness the cremation, accommodating up to 20 people. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/cremation-options Crematorium services URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/crematorium-services Viewing rooms URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/viewing-rooms ### Plaque Memorialisation SMCT offers personalised memorial plaques with custom wording, photos, and symbols across all 11 cemetery locations. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/plaques ### Mausoleum Options Above-ground mausoleum burial and cremation niche options are available at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Bunurong Memorial Park, Melbourne General Cemetery, and Cheltenham Memorial Park. Notable mausoleums include: - St Mary of the Cross (underground mausoleum, Melbourne General Cemetery) - Saint Michael the Archangel Mausoleum (double-storey mausoleum, Melbourne General Cemetery) - All Souls Mausoleum (Springvale Botanical Cemetery) - Pieta Mausoleum (Bunurong Memorial Park) URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/mausoleum-options --- ## Facilities ### Chapels and Reflection Spaces Suitable for funeral and memorial services of all sizes, featuring multimedia and live-streaming capabilities. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/chapels-and-reflection-spaces ### Function Rooms Fully licensed venues with culturally inspired menus prepared by in-house chefs, available for memorial services and other events. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/function-rooms ### Café Vita et Flores Licensed café and florist located at Springvale Botanical Cemetery and Bunurong Memorial Park. Offers seasonal dishes, hot coffee, floral arrangements, and function catering. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/cafe ### Florist On-site florist available at Springvale and Dandenong South locations. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/services/florist --- ## Planning a Funeral SMCT provides extensive resources and support to help families plan a funeral or memorial service at any of their cemetery locations. Resources available: - 10 steps to planning a funeral: https://www.smct.org.au/plan/10-steps - Funeral director search (find a local, SMCT-registered Melbourne funeral director): https://www.smct.org.au/plan/funeral-director-search - Pricing and location fees: https://www.smct.org.au/plan/location-fees - Compare cemetery and memorial pricing: https://www.smct.org.au/resources/compare-pricing - What to do when someone dies: https://www.smct.org.au/blog/what-do-i-do-when-someone-dies - Financial support for funeral planning: https://www.smct.org.au/plan/financial-support - MyLifebook (end-of-life planning guide): https://www.smct.org.au/plan/mylifebook - Buy a burial plot in advance: https://www.smct.org.au/plan/planning-ahead - Burial vs cremation guide: https://www.smct.org.au/resources/burial-and-cremation - Frequently asked questions: https://www.smct.org.au/resources/frequently-asked-questions - Community planning service: https://www.smct.org.au/about-us/community/community-planning-service Families can book an obligation-free appointment with SMCT's team for personalised guidance: https://my.smct.org.au/new-appointment --- ## Grief Support SMCT provides grief support resources for families navigating the loss of a loved one. URL: https://www.smct.org.au/grief-support --- ## Community and Inclusion SMCT is committed to serving Melbourne's diverse community. Cemetery sections are available for a range of religious and cultural groups. SMCT believes every person, regardless of religion, culture, or personal preferences, should be able to honour and celebrate their loved one as they choose. SMCT respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which its cemeteries and memorial parks are located. Community page: https://www.smct.org.au/about-us/community Reconciliation: https://www.smct.org.au/about-us/reconciliation Sustainability: https://www.smct.org.au/about-us/sustainability --- ## Deceased Search and Upcoming Services - Search for a deceased person: https://www.smct.org.au/deceased-search - View upcoming funeral services: https://www.smct.org.au/upcoming-services --- ## Contact Phone: 1300 466 904 Website contact form: https://www.smct.org.au/contact Book an appointment: https://my.smct.org.au/new-appointment Make a payment: https://www.smct.org.au/make-a-payment Feedback or complaints: https://www.smct.org.au/feedback Customer Service Centre hours: - Monday to Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm - Saturday: 9:00am - 1:00pm - Closed Sundays and Public Holidays --- ## Social Media - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernMetroCemeteriesTrust/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-metropolitan-cemeteries-trust --- ## Key Topics SMCT Can Help With - Cemetery and burial options in Melbourne - Cremation services in Melbourne - How to plan a funeral in Victoria - What to do when someone dies in Melbourne - Natural burial options in Melbourne - Mausoleum options in Melbourne - Cost of burial in Australia - Burial vs cremation in Australia - Pre-planning a funeral or buying a burial plot in advance - Finding a funeral director in Melbourne - Grief support resources - Memorial plaques and personalised memorials - End-of-life planning - Multicultural and multi-faith burial options in Melbourne - Cemetery locations in Melbourne's south-east