Project Cultivate celebrates St Kilda milestone
- 27 May 2026
After months of mulching, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) has reached a Project Cultivate milestone at St Kilda Cemetery – the official start of planting.
Project Cultivate is SMCT’s award-winning horticultural initiative, revitalising historic cemetery grounds as biodiverse landscapes. It involves planting indigenous wildflowers, grasses and shrubs to improve the natural environment, enhance visitor experience, and promote sustainability. All while balancing the needs of historic cemeteries and the families whose loved ones are within, as well as our local communities.
The project’s successful take up at Melbourne General Cemetery, both from community and within industry, has created an approach SMCT is keen to bring to other historic cemeteries. Working with Traditional Custodians and community, Project Cultivate requires a deeper understanding of the land to find balance between current use and future sustainability.
A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by representatives from Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation celebrated the start of planting and revegetation of St Kilda Cemetery.
Healing Country
In May, SMCT was honoured to host Bunurong Elder Uncle Shane and proud Bunurong man James Brown to conduct a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on site at St Kilda Cemetery. They spoke of shared stories, songlines, responsibility and the powerful meaning behind a Welcome to Country.
St Kilda Cemetery is a small but mighty space. Project Cultivate will have a profound impact on biodiversity on site, applying cultural knowledge and horticultural practice to revitalise the space while maintaining a respectful environment for reflection.
The intimate ceremony was attended by representatives from the City of Port Phillip, Friends of St Kilda Cemetery, Port Phillip EcoCentre, our Community Advisory Committee, and visitors to the cemetery side by side with members from our Trust, executive team and Project Cultivate colleagues.
CEO Ingrid Harvey spoke about our relationship building with Traditional Custodians and our privilege and shared responsibility to care for the land.
“Together we are creating a thriving, respectful place for community to honour their loved ones, acknowledge our shared histories, and explore the possibilities for a more sustainable future.”
SMCT’s collaboration with Traditional Custodians at St Kilda Cemetery continues our commitment to fostering cultural understand and honouring the rich heritage of the land.
Strengthening biodiversity
Before planting could commence, more than 40 tonnes of gazania and other weeds were removed in preparation for the more than 1,500 cubic metres of organic mulch to be applied. This mulch is the foundation of the project, radically improving soil conditions before further planting can take place.
The unique environment at St Kilda Cemetery requires a different planting approach to that at Melbourne General Cemetery. More native wildflowers, groundcovers and shrubs will be added to work with the sandier soil and limited irrigation of the area. Grasses will have their place, but not to the same extent.
In all, more than 35 species of indigenous plants will feature at St Kilda Cemetery – adding more than 155,000 plants to roughly 95% of the plantable areas of the site. Importantly, this will not include removing any existing substantial trees or disrupting any lawn areas.
Community planting days will take place in spring. Interpretative signage will be placed around the cemetery to raise awareness of the project and biodiversity impact and encourage gentle exploration of this beautiful space.
For more information on the project, visit www.engagewith.smct.org.au/cultivate-stk or keep visiting the St Kilda Cemetery Facebook page. External site
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