Yarra Glen unmarked graves and memorial

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) are planning grave construction works to meet the future needs of families who wish to purchase a new grave in the Yarra Glen Cemetery.

We would like to thank the families who responded to our public notice in December 2021.

As a result of descendants and experts coming forward, some additional information was identified, and our records have been updated accordingly.

Research and results

GMCT conducted research to locate any unmarked graves in the Wesleyan and Lawn areas with a geophysical investigation using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) that yielded no results. The next step has been to reach out to the community, and again we have not located any historical unmarked graves.

Based on these results GMCT is now able to commence new grave construction works in the Wesleyan and Lawn areas in June 2022. In the unlikely event that a historical unmarked grave is located during the works, then work in that area will cease and the grave will remain undisturbed.

Research and results

Prior to commencing any works, GMCT has conducted an extensive search to check if there are any historical unmarked graves from the 1900s in the Wesleyan and Lawn areas of the cemetery to ensure these graves remain undisturbed.

Previous cemetery trusts lacked the technology to map grave locations in the way GMCT can do today. Additionally, the historical records are inconclusive as to location of the individuals buried in the Wesleyan and Lawn areas.

GMCT conducted research to locate any unmarked graves in the Wesleyan and Lawn areas with a geophysical investigation using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and ground truthing that yielded no results. The next step was to reach out to the community, and again we have not located any historical unmarked graves.

Based on these results GMCT is now able to commence new grave building works in May 2022. If any stage, we locate a historical unmarked grave during the works, the grave will remain undisturbed.

New monument

GMCT will erect a monument to honour the memory of the individuals buried in unmarked graves listed in the public notice. This monument will be located at the front entrance of the Yarra Glen Cemetery and provide the family members and descendants a place where they can visit and remember.

Call for location based information

If you can help supplement the historical records with more information - specifically in relation to the areas marked in red as proposed sites - on the attached map, then please contact us.

If you have any questions, please contact GMCT’s Customer Care team on 1300 022 298 or email community@gmct.com.au.