Werribee Cemetery (Werribee Cemetery Trust 1864-c.1970s; Werribee Shire Council c.1970s-1994; Wyndham City Council 1994-1997; Wyndham Cemeteries Trust 1997-2010)

Full description

On the 10th October 1864, a cemetery reserve at Wyndham was gazetted to accommodate the needs of the Shire of Wyndham. This reserve became known as the Wyndham General Cemetery, until 1890, when it was renamed the Werribee Public Cemetery. The Cemetery holds a large range of monuments as well as a mausoleum which opened in 2004.

From its beginnings, the Cemetery has been administered by multiple Trusts. Initially a group of private trustees, known as Werribee Cemetery Trust managed the Cemetery until the 1970s when Werribee Shire Council (VA 2533) took over the duties. Later in 1994, Wyndham City Council (VA 3726) was appointed as the successor in law to Werribee council and assumed responsibility of Werribee Cemetery. Then in 1997, Wyndham Cemeteries Trust was established to manage both Werribee Cemetery as well as near by Truganina Cemetery (VA 5109). This change in administration reflected the 1995 amendment to the Cemeteries Act 1958, in which the Victorian Government advocated for the creation of cemetery trusts to replace council run trusts. Yet, the Wyndham Cemeteries Trust itself comprised of Wyndham City councilors. Wyndham Cemetery Trust operated until 2010 when the Trust was amalgamated into the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (VA 5107).

Cemeteries are controlled by a Trust appointed by the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the responsible Minister. Trustees are responsible for the administration and maintenance of cemeteries, 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.