Cremations are now more popular in Australia than the traditional burial. In Victoria, over 65% of deaths that occur each year are cremations.

This guide is designed to help you understand more about arranging a cremation service in Melbourne. It includes a comprehensive list of Melbourne crematoriums and their locations so you can decide which crematorium best suits your needs.

For general information about cremations, we recommend you have a look at our Guide to Cremations. If you’re interested in understanding how much cremation services cost, see our guide to the Average Cost of a Cremation in Australia.

This article covers:

  1. Melbourne Crematoriums
  2. How to Arrange a Melbourne Cremation Service
  3. Cremation Services in Melbourne, Victoria – Regulations
  4. Prepaid Cremations Melbourne

1. Melbourne Crematoriums

Cremations take place at the following Melbourne crematoriums:

SuburbMelbourne Crematorium NameOperator
Altona NorthAltona Memorial ParkGreater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (Govt)
ClaytonSpringvale Botanical CemeterySouthern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (Govt)
Dandenong SouthBunurong Memorial ParkSouthern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (Govt)
FawknerFawkner Memorial ParkGreater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (Govt)
LilydaleLilydale Memorial ParkGreater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (Govt)

For more information about these cemeteries, see our Complete Guide to Melbourne Cemeteries.

In contrast to other states such as NSW, where private operators undertake a significant portion of the state’s cremations, in Victoria, only government-regulated cemetery trusts can conduct cremations.

Springvale Botanical Cemetery
Springvale Botanical Cemetery

2. How to Arrange a Melbourne Cremation Service

We’ve previously written about the various considerations that arise when arranging a cremation. Funerals – whether burials or cremations – require families to make a number of arrangements with which they are frequently unfamiliar. These arrangements are made more difficult by the fact that important decisions often need to be made within a short timeframe.

Getting in touch with a funeral director can help take much of the stress out of the planning process as it allows you to rely on their experience and expertise. Gathered Here makes it easy to find the best funeral director to assist you.

To compare prices and customer reviews of Melbourne funeral directors who manage cremations, all you need to do is:

  1. Go to www.gatheredhere.com.au
  2. Select cremation
  3. Select the type of funeral service you would like
  4. Type in your postcode and click “Compare”

You can find more information about Melbourne funeral directors in our Funeral Directors Melbourne guide, and details about the cheapest Melbourne cremations in our guide to Direct Cremations Melbourne.

Altona Memorial Park
Altona Memorial Park

3. Cremation Services in Melbourne, Victoria – Regulations

Regardless of where in Australia a cremation takes place, the cremation process will involve a number of fairly routine steps. However, there are additional rules for cremations that vary from state to state.

In Victoria, cremations are governed by the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2015.

Under this legislation, the following rules apply to Melbourne cremations:

  • cremated remains must be available two days after cremation;
  • cremated remains must be held for at least 12 months;
  • the cemetery trust may remove any fittings on the coffin/receptacle if it is of the opinion that the fittings could impede the cremation or damage the cremator;
  • it is an offence to play sport, fish, bathe, hunt or camp in a public cemetery.
Bunurong Memorial Park
Bunurong Memorial Park

4. Prepaid Cremations Melbourne

When it comes to thinking about your own funeral, you might consider buying a prepaid cremation. Prepaid funerals allow you to pay for your funeral at today’s prices, meaning that you don’t have to worry about burdening your family with complex decisions and funeral fees at a date in the future. Purchasing a prepaid cremation also provides a clear message to your loved ones as to your wishes once you have passed.

Our guide to Prepaid Funerals in Melbourne provides more information on arranging a prepaid Melbourne cremation service.

We hope you’ve found this guide to Melbourne crematoriums and cremation services useful. If you have any questions or would like additional help, send us an email at support@gatheredhere.com.au or leave a message in the comments section below.


See the full picture and make fully informed decisions. Move forward in the certainty that your loved one’s memory will be looked after. Funeral Homes are Gathered Here.

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