Melbourne General Cemetery

The Melbourne General Cemetery is a large (43 hectare) necropolis located 3 km (1.9 mi) north of the city of Melbourne in the suburb of Carlton North.

Melbourne General Cemetery
Aerial view of Melbourne General Cemetery, looking north
Details
Established1852
Location
Carlton North, Victoria
CountryAustralia
Coordinates
Size43 hectares (110 acres)
Websitesmct.org.au/our-locations/about-melbourne-general-cemetery
Find a GraveMelbourne General Cemetery
Characteristic headstones and grave sites within the cemetery
Cemetery gatehouse
Chapel

The cemetery is notably the resting place of four Prime Ministers of Australia, more than any other necropolis within Australia. Former Prime Minister Harold Holt's headstone is a memorial, as his remains have never been discovered.

History

The cemetery was established in 1852 and opened on 1 June 1853, and the Old Melbourne Cemetery (on the site of what is now the Queen Victoria Market) was closed the next year.

The grounds feature several heritage buildings, many in bluestone, including a couple of chapels and a number of cast iron pavilions. The gatehouses are particularly notable.

Notable interments
Main article: List of burials at Melbourne General Cemetery

Prime Ministers Garden

Five Prime Ministers of Australia are memorialised at Melbourne General Cemetery. Three are interred in the cemetery's 'Prime Ministers Garden': Sir Robert Menzies (including Dame Pattie Menzies), Sir John Gorton, and Malcolm Fraser.[1] Harold Holt's (including his wife Dame Zara Bate) is a memorial, as his body was never recovered after he disappeared at sea. Dame Zara is buried at Sorrento Cemetery, the closest burial ground to where Holt disappeared.

James Scullin (including Sarah Scullin) is buried in the Catholic section of the cemetery.

State Premiers and Governors

There are eight Premiers of Victoria buried at Melbourne General Cemetery, more than any other necropolis around the state. Premiers George Elmslie, James Francis, Duncan Gillies, Richard Heales, William Nicholson, Sir John O'Shanassy, Sir James Patterson, and James Service. Sir Robert Menzies served as Deputy Premier of Victoria between 1932 and 1934.

The first Premier of Tasmania is interred at Melbourne General Cemetery, William Champ.

There is one Governor of Victoria, Sir Charles Hotham, and one Governor-General of Australia, Sir Isaac Isaacs, buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.

War graves

The cemetery contains the war graves of 91 Commonwealth service personnel, more than 30 from World War I and more than 50 from World War II.[2]

References
  1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8535779%7C%5B%5D Retrieved 2010-2-20
  2. MELBOURNE GENERAL CEMETERY, CARLTON CWGC Cemetery Report.
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