Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park [previously known as New Melbourne Cemetery, 1906-1971]

Full description

Under the Northern Suburbs Cemetery Act, 1904 (No. 1952), the Melbourne City Council, towns of North Melbourne, Essendon, Brunswick, borough of Flemington and Kensington and the shires of Coburg and Broadmeadows were authorised to acquire and hold land at Fawkner for the purposes of a cemetery to meet the needs of the city's north-west suburbs. This was the only Victorian cemetery not funded by the state and was private land (until 1970) unlike other cemeteries which began with a grant of Crown Land. In 1906, the Cemetery opened under the name New Melbourne Cemetery at Fawkner and the first burial took place on 10 December 1906.

In 1927, Melbourne's first crematorium was erected at New Melbourne Cemetery at Fawkner and cremations gradually assumed a larger importance than burials at the site. Later in 1970, the cemetery's trustees also became responsible for the Coburg Public Cemetery under the provisions of the Cemeteries (Coburg Public Cemetery) Act 1970. Then in 1971, under the Cemeteries (Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park) Act (No. 8116), the name of the New Melbourne Cemetery was changed to Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park and the site became Crown Land. Additionally, the trusteeship which since its establishment had been made up of local mayors and councilors, changed to an independent Trust.

Under the provisions of the Cemeteries Acts, trustees of public cemeteries were appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The trustees were responsible for the administration and maintenance of the cemetery, the collection of fees and expenditure of revenue (for e.g. grants, subsidies received) the registration of burials and cremations, the making of rules and regulations and determining the scale of fees.

Following Victorian Auditor-General reviews of cemetery trusts in the state, the State Government in August 2006 appointed an Administrator to the Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park and the Trust was dismissed.

In 2010, Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park was amalgamated into the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (VA 5107).