The Springvale Botanical Cemetery is the largest crematorium and memorial park in Victoria, Australia. It is located in Springvale, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

History

Originally known as The Necropolis Springvale, the cemetery commenced operations in 1901. Between 1904 and 1952 it was served by its own railway branch line and

station Station may refer to: Agriculture * Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production * Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle ** Cattle statio ...

, by which coffins, passengers and staff were conveyed to the cemetery. The first cremation took place at Springvale in April 1905. According to the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, here have been approximately 473,000 cremations and 162,000 burials at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery. In 2006, the cemetery was renamed the Springvale Botanical Cemetery to reflect its increasing botanical significance, which includes original plantings of two bunya-bunya pines, palms and gums. It is now administered by the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT), which manages nine cemeteries in all, including the

Melbourne General Cemetery The Melbourne General Cemetery is a large (43 hectare) necropolis located north of the city of Melbourne in the suburb of Carlton North. The cemetery is notably the resting place of four Prime Ministers of Australia, more than any other nec ...

, St Kilda Cemetery and Dandenong Community Cemetery.

Notable interments

* Frank Bladin (1898–1978), RAAF commander * Scobie Breasley (1914–2006), champion jockey * A.R. Chisholm (1888–1981), French language scholar * Sir Zelman Cowen (1919–2011), Governor-General *

Cyril Clowes Lieutenant General Cyril Albert Clowes, (11 March 1892 – 19 May 1968) was an Australian soldier. He won the first land victory against the Japanese in the Second World War, at the Battle of Milne Bay, New Guinea. Like many other senior offic ...

(1892–1968), soldier *

Erle Cox Erle Cox (15 August 1873 – 20 November 1950) was an Australian journalist and science fiction writer. Life Cox was born at Emerald Hill, Victoria, on 15 August 1873, the second son of Ross Cox, who had emigrated from his native Dublin as ...

(1873–1950), author * Frank Crean (1916–2008), Deputy Prime Minister *

Bernard Cronin Bernard Cronin (18 March 1884 – 9 June 1968) was an Australian author and journalist. With Gertrude Hart, he founded the Old Derelicts' Club in 1920 which later became the Society of Australian Authors. Life Cronin was born in Ealing, Midd ...

(1884–1968), author * Jack Dyer (1913–2003), footballer * James Fowler (1863–1940), politician, author *

Cathy Godbold Catherine Malia Godbold (23 September 1974 – 4 May 2018) was an Australian actress. She was best known for her role as Deborah Hale Regnery on ''The Saddle Club'' and as Meg Bowman in ''Home and Away''. Following the cancellation of '' Newl ...

(1974–2018), actress *

Robert Grieve Robert Cuthbert Grieve, Victoria Cross, VC (19 June 1889 – 4 October 1957) was an List of Australian Victoria Cross recipients, Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be a ...

VC (1889–1957), soldier *

Charles Hegyalji Charles Hegyalji (6 August 1956 – 22 November 1998) also known as Mad Charlie was a Hungarian born gangland criminal in Melbourne, Australia. Hegyalji was a key figure in the amphetamine trade. He was charged with attempted murder in 1997 afte ...

(1956–1998), gangster * Walter Hume (1873–1943), inventor, concrete pipe developer *

Richard Kelliher Richard Kelliher, VC (1 September 1910 – 28 January 1963) was an Irish-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Kelliher received his VC while s ...

VC (1910–1963), soldier * Jack Little (1908–1986), media personality *

Rosemary Margan Rosemary Margan (12 May 1937 – 5 December 2017) was an Australian television and radio personality. She won Logie Awards for best Victorian Female Personality in 1969 and 1970. Biography Margan became well known for working with both Graham ...

(1937–2017), radio and television personality * John McEwen (1900–1980), Prime Minister * Bert Newton (1938-2021) TV and radio presenter, entertainer and actor *

Bess Norriss Elizabeth May Norriss, later Bess Norriss Tait, (17 May 1878 – January 1939) was an Australian artist. Life Norriss was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1878. She studied at Melbourne Art Gallery School and in 1905 at the Slade School of Fin ...

(1878–1939), artist *

Horace Petty Sir Horace Rostill Petty (25 March 1904 – 16 February 1982) was an Australian politician. He was born in Richmond to wood block engraver Frederick Charles Petty and Alice Maud Rostill. He attended University High School and then the Univ ...

(1904–1982), politician *

Dorothy Porter Dorothy Featherstone Porter (26 March 1954 – 10 December 2008) was an Australian poet. She was a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award for lifetime achievement in poetry. Early life Porter was born in Sydney. Her father was barrister ...

(1954–2008), poet *

Julia Rapke Julia Rapke OBE (11 February 1886 – 9 October 1959) was an Australian, Jewish women's rights activist and Justice of the peace, Justice of the Peace, who held numerous roles in women's organisations regionally, nationally and internationally, ...

(1886–1959), women's rights activist * Macpherson Robertson (1859-1945), chocolate manufacturer, philanthropist * John Ryan VC (1890–1941), soldier *

Reginald Sholl Sir Reginald Richard Sholl (8 October 19027 August 1988) was an Australian lawyer, judge, diplomat, commentator. Having attended Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research un ...

(1902–1988), Supreme Court justice, diplomat *

Billy Snedden Sir Billy Mackie Snedden, (31 December 1926 – 27 June 1987) was an Australian politician who served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1972 to 1975. He was also a cabinet minister from 1964 to 1972, and Speaker of the House of Represe ...

(1926–1987), politician * Charles Tait (1868–1933), film maker, theatrical entrepreneur * Bud Tingwell (1923–2009), actor * Fannie Eleanor Williams (1884–1963), scientist *

Kath Williams Katherine Mary Isabel "Kath" Williams, ''née'' Chambers and formerly Clarey (23 April 1895 – 17 April 1975) was an Australian trade unionist and campaigner for equal pay. She was born at Lara to law clerk Edward Crombie Chambers and Jane ...

(1895–1975), trade unionist, equal pay campaigner *

Tommy Woodcock Aaron Treve Woodcock Jr. (8 October 190527 April 1985) professionally Tommy Woodcock, was the Australian racehorse trainer and handler of the thoroughbred racehorse Phar Lap. Early life Tommy Woodcock was born in 1905 at Uralgurra in Bellbrook ...

(1905–1985), Phar Lap's handler * Bill Woodfull (1897–1965), cricketer * Tracy Pew (1957-1986), musician *

Henry Wynter Lieutenant General Henry Douglas Wynter, (6 June 1886 – 7 February 1945) was an Australian Army officer who rose to the rank of lieutenant general during the Second World War. Official Historian Gavin Long described him as "perhaps the clearest ...

(1886–1945), soldier * Ethel Tracy Richardson (1877–1942), nursing sister, army matron-in-chief, and honorary major

War graves

The Botanical Cemetery contains the war graves of 146 Commonwealth service personnel, nearly 50 from World War I and nearly 100 from World War II.SPRINGVALE BOTANICAL CEMETERY
– CWGC Cemetery Report. In addition the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) also commemorates 67 Commonwealth service personnel cremated at Springvale Crematorium whose ashes remain here.

Springvale War Cemetery

Within two acres of the Botanical Cemetery, beyond the crematorium, lies the CWGC's Springvale War Cemetery, created in World War II, where there are buried 607 Commonwealth service personnel and 4 Dutch personnel. It contains a

Cross of Sacrifice The Cross of Sacrifice is a Commonwealth war memorial designed in 1918 by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission). It is present in Commonwealth war cemeteries containing 40 or ...

unveiled in 1948. In the form of bronze plaques, on the rear wall of the shelter behind the Cross, is the Victoria Cremation Memorial to 75 Commonwealth service personnel who were cremated within the State of Victoria but whose ashes were disposed of where a memorial could not be sited.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2082902/victoria-cremation-memorial

References

External links

Springvale Botanical Cemetery websiteSpringvale Botanical Cemetery
– Billion Graves 1901 establishments in Australia Cemeteries in Melbourne Buildings and structures in the City of Greater Dandenong