Memorials

The Eltham Cemetery Trust is responsible for maintaining the appearance and atmosphere of the Cemetery grounds; different sizes and styles of memorialisation are used throughout the Cemetery, and we ask that you contact the Secretary to discuss the options for your particular memorial site. 

Lawn gravesites

Lawn gravesites are memorialized with a plaque installed on an individual pad and placed at the head of the gravesite. The lawn areas do not have any monuments, raised plaques, pedestals or headstones.

A memorial plaque can be arranged directly through the Trust, or through a third party supplier with the appropriate cemetery issued permit. Only approved plaques may be placed at memorial sites.

A reconditioning service is also available to restore aged or deteriorated plaques.

Headstone memorialisation

The Trust offers grave, vault and ashes interment sites featuring pre-installed headstones in architecturally designed settings. They are in the following sections:

Headstone Lawn:

  • Grevillea Garden
  • Wisteria Walk South

Headstone Lawn and Headstone Ashes:

  • Wisteria Walk Central
  • Wisteria Walk North

Vault:

  • Celebration Hill

Inscription of headstones must be undertaken by a stonemason and require a permit from the Trust. Any subsequent alterations to an existing headstone (e.g. an additional inscription) require a further permit.
Stonemason fees and permit fees are not included in the cost of the memorial site. The Trust does not recommend specific stonemasons.

Monumental gravesites

In monumental areas, a full monument or headstone may be constructed.

The construction and the inscription must be undertaken by a stonemason with the appropriate permits issued by the Trust.

Any subsequent alterations to existing headstones, monuments or monumental gravesites (e.g. an additional inscription, inclusion of new features to the monument or any restoration works) also require a permit.

Stonemason fees and permit fees are not included in the cost of the memorial site. The Trust does not recommend specific stonemasons.

Ashes Memorials

The Trust offers a variety of ashes memorials including plaque and headstone options. 

A memorial plaque can be arranged directly with the Trust, or through a third party supplier who will require the appropriate cemetery permit. Only approved plaques may be placed at memorial sites.

A reconditioning service is also available to restore aged or deteriorated plaques.

For headstone sites, please refer to Headstone Memorialisation

Maintaining memorials

The Eltham Cemetery is on Crown Land and when a memorial site is purchased, it is not the land that is purchased, but rather the right to use that land for the purpose of an interment.

The memorial, whether it be plaque, headstone or monument, is owned and maintained by the family whilst the maintenance of the cemetery grounds is the responsibility of the Trust.

For maintenance of monuments and headstones, we suggest consultation with your stonemason. For memorial plaque care, click here.

Flowers and Ornaments

It is the policy of the Eltham Cemetery Trust that only cemetery issued vases may be used for floral arrangements with the exception of where a vase forms part of a monument or headstone.

Further, the following are not permitted and will be removed:

  • any non-Cemetery issued or approved vase (glass, plastic, ceramic or otherwise);
  • containers or pots;
  • ornaments of any kind*, which includes any item intended as a gravesite marker/identifier in lieu of a memorial plaque;
  • candles;
  • any item attached to a memorial plaque or lawn grave headstone, other than a ceramic photograph;
  • artificial flowers or floral arrangements that may
    • have the potential to cause harm to visitors or employees or damage to maintenance equipment OR;
    • intrude upon or obstruct neighbouring interment sites;
  • potted shrubs, trees or flowers or the planting of same

Dead and stray flowers or floral arrangements will be removed as required prior to undertaking lawn mowing or garden maintenance activities.

* Some ornaments may be placed on monumental or headstone interment sites provided Cemetery standards are met and with approval of the Secretary/Manager.

Vases

Replacement vases may be arranged with the Secretary or Cemetery Team Leader.

Replacement or additional vases for sites in monumental sections (i.e. constructed monuments or non-Trust constructed headstones) should be sourced through a stonemason or third party supplier. Applicable permits will be required.

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