This guide covers everything you need to know about a direct cremation in Melbourne, including:
- Options for cheap cremations in Melbourne
- How to find a direct cremation in Melbourne
- The cost of a direct cremation in Melbourne
- How to finance a direct cremation
- Choosing a Melbourne crematorium
- Holding a memorial service after a direct cremation
1. Direct cremations are the cheapest cremation option
A direct cremation is the most basic cremation option.
In contrast to the traditional funeral, which involves a service held at a chapel or church, followed by a procession to the graveside or crematorium, a direct cremation is simply the cremation of a body with no funeral service or ceremony. The family of the deceased does not attend a direct cremation – often, the funeral director transports the deceased’s body to the crematorium, and the deceased’s ashes are returned to the family once the cremation has taken place.
Direct cremations are also referred to as ‘no service cremations’, or ‘no service, no attendance cremations’. A ‘cremation only’ is also another name for a direct cremation.
While some families choose a direct cremation for cost reasons, others – including wealthy families – opt for a no service cremation as they prefer to skip the traditional funeral service in favour of a more personal memorial service once they have the deceased’s ashes. We discuss memorial services in more detail below.
If you’re interested in understanding more about cheap funeral options, see our Guide to Cheap Funerals and our Complete Guide to Cheap Cremations.
2. How to Find a Direct Cremation in Melbourne
Finding a direct cremation in Melbourne starts with finding a funeral director. Our website lets you instantly compare the prices and reviews of over 160 funeral directors in the Greater Melbourne area offering direct cremations.
To start your search for a direct cremation in Melbourne:
- Go to www.gatheredhere.com.au
- Select “Cremation”
- Select “No Service, No Attendance”
- Enter your Postcode and click “Compare”
This will show you all direct cremations offered by funeral directors within a 15km radius of your area.
Tips:
- To find cheap cremations in Melbourne, use the “Price (Low)” filter
- To find the best direct cremations in Melbourne, use the “Rating” filter
While all funeral directors offer no service cremations, some funeral directors around Australia specialise in direct cremations only. For more information, see our Guide to Cremations Only Funeral Directors in Australia.
3. Cost of a Direct Cremation in Melbourne
A direct cremation is usually the cheapest cremation option because it does not involve the often significant costs of a funeral service. Some of the items that you will not need to pay for if you choose a no service cremation in Melbourne include:
- funeral celebrant;
- flowers;
- catering;
- mortuary care fees;
- multiple transportations of the deceased’s body.
Cheapest Direct Cremation in Melbourne
As of 12 January 2021, the cheapest direct cremation in Melbourne costs $1,495.
Average Price for a Direct Cremation in Melbourne
As of 12 January 2021, the average cost for a direct cremation in Melbourne is $3,438.
Most Expensive Direct Cremation in Melbourne
As of 12 January 2021, the most expensive direct cremation in Melbourne costs $6,033.
Do Your Research
As you can see, the price range for a direct cremation is substantial, so if you’re looking for a cheap cremation in Melbourne, it pays to do your research before making a purchase.
Using Gathered Here makes it easy to compare your options. You can also check out our Guide to Melbourne Funeral Directors for a list of the cheapest local funeral directors and other important details to consider when selecting a funeral director.
4. Finance a Direct Cremation in Melbourne
Gathered Here has partnered with zipMoney (a buy now, pay later solution) to enable customers to purchase a funeral – including a direct cremation – on 3 months’ interest & fee-free finance from participating funeral directors. This means you can borrow an amount between $1,000 to $10,000 and have 3 months to repay the loan, interest-free. You can apply for finance through our website and be approved within minutes.
To find a funeral director who offers funeral financing for a no service cremation in Melbourne, simply follow the search steps above, and then select the box “Only show funeral directors offering finance”.
Important Note: Buy now, pay later finance on Gathered Here is generally only approved for prime, near prime and emerging prime consumers (i.e. consumers who are likely to be able to repay the loan). We do not promote the practice of lending money at high interest rates to those who are unlikely to be able to repay.
5. Melbourne Crematoriums
If you purchase a direct cremation, the body will be cremated at a crematorium in Melbourne. Your chosen funeral director will often use a particular crematorium for no service cremations; however, it is open to you to pick a different one if you wish.
Some of the better-known crematoriums in Melbourne include:
- Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Clayton;
- Fawkner Memorial Park in Fawkner;
- Lilydale Memorial Park in Lilydale.
For more information, including a comprehensive list of Melbourne crematoriums, see our Guide to Melbourne Crematoriums and Cremation Services.
6. Direct Cremations and Memorial Services
Although direct cremations are the cheapest cremation option, there is no need to feel you are disrespecting or failing to honour the deceased by eschewing a more expensive funeral. Often, instead of the more traditional funeral service, families choose to hold a memorial service to farewell the deceased once they have received the ashes from the cremation.
Memorial services offer greater flexibility (and, often, creativity) than a traditional funeral. Many families plan a memorial service at a venue that held significance for the deceased, while others select activities and/or other tributes that they feel will best memorialise their loved one. See our Guide to Unique Memorial Service Ideas.
We hope you have found this guide to direct cremations in Melbourne useful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by leaving a message in the comments section below or emailing us at support@gatheredhere.com.au.
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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