Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is a community based, not-for-profit organisation c

Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust ( SMCT) is a public entity reporting to the Minister for Health, purposed with providing cemetery, cremation and related support services to the community on the government’s behalf.

To hear their name is to hold them close.There is a profound power in speaking the names of the babies and children we c...
14/03/2026

To hear their name is to hold them close.

There is a profound power in speaking the names of the babies and children we carry in our hearts. It is a simple act, but one that ensures they are recognized, honoured, and remembered.

We are privileged to once again support our friends at Red Nose for the third annual Melbourne Say Their Name Day Remembrance Service.

This year, we invite families to bring a photo or a special memento of their baby or child to place on our remembrance table.

Our Community Care & Wellbeing team has been working closely with Red Nose to ensure this service provides a warm, gentle space for connection and reflection.

We look forward to gathering with you to speak their names and hold space for one another.

Event Details:
Saturday 28th of March 2026
10:30am - 12:30pm
Stratus reflection space
Bunurong Memorial Park


Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries invite you to step back into the 1920s and uncover the haunting stories b...
14/03/2026

Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries invite you to step back into the 1920s and uncover the haunting stories behind Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery’s quiet graves. Join our tour to hear moving, forgotten tales—from a tragic family house fire to a fatal childhood mishap and a rail disaster that shook the community. Discover the tragic, yet fascinating lives that shaped our local history.

Event details:
Location: Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery, Sunday 22 March. Meet just inside the gate at 1.30pm
Cost: Members: $12* – Non members: $15*
Refreshments provided
Bookings required: Email info@focrc.org or call 9497 1318

* Please note that this tour is organised by the Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries, not by SMCT.

#

Questions about memorial options? We're here to listen. Book a no-obligation appointment with our Family Services team. ...
12/03/2026

Questions about memorial options? We're here to listen. Book a no-obligation appointment with our Family Services team. We can show you the grounds and help you understand what's possible. Book a time that suits you: https://www.smct.org.au/contact

Hand on heart, they came with hope.This St Patrick’s Day, look beyond the parades and discover the real stories of the I...
10/03/2026

Hand on heart, they came with hope.
This St Patrick’s Day, look beyond the parades and discover the real stories of the Irish immigrants who helped build our community.

Join us on Sunday, 15 March for a special guided walk at Brighton General Cemetery. We will explore the triumphs and tragedies of those who arrived with willingness, resilience, and perhaps a bit of blarney.

We will visit the memorials of local figures including:

• Mary Malahan, who remarkably emigrated in her 70s to follow her sons to East Bentleigh—a testament to the strength of family bonds.

• Michael Quirk, Mary Brady, and Robert & Harriet Arnold, among others who made this area their home.

Discover the history written in stone right on your doorstep.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, 15 March
Time: 2:00 pm
Meeting Point: Near the front gate, Brighton General Cemetery
Cost: $15 per person
Bookings are essential.
Please call Lois on 9558 4248 to secure your place.

This International Women's Day, we want to share some stories from the archives about this years theme, "Balance the Sca...
07/03/2026

This International Women's Day, we want to share some stories from the archives about this years theme, "Balance the Scales".

Across our grounds rest trailblazers who led when the odds were stacked against them, and deliberately shifted the scales for the generations of women who followed.

We honour the legacy of leaders like:

Julia Bella Guerin (Melbourne General Cemetery)In 1883, Bella made history as the first woman to graduate from a university in Australia. She did not stop at her own success; she spent her life tirelessly campaigning for women’s suffrage, equal pay, and the right for women to participate fully in public life.

Dr Constance Stone (St Kilda Cemetery)Forced to leave Australia to study medicine because local universities would not accept women, Constance returned to become the first woman to register as a medical practitioner in the country. She went on to help found the Queen Victoria Hospital, an institution run entirely by women, for women.

Janet Lady Clarke (Melbourne General Cemetery)A visionary philanthropist who saw that intelligence was not limited by geography or gender. She funded the first hostel for female university students in Melbourne, ensuring that women from regional areas finally had the safe accommodation they needed to access higher education.

As we reflect on change, and balancing the scales, we honour their impact and legacy.

Who is a woman in your family or community who has helped balance the scales? We invite you to share her story and speak her name in the comments below.

06/03/2026

Learn more about Wonthaggi Cemetery with our Communications Officer Cam Halliday.

💚 Today we’re celebrating World Wildlife Day the wonderful critters and plants found across our beautiful sites. 🌺🐸🦜Than...
03/03/2026

💚 Today we’re celebrating World Wildlife Day the wonderful critters and plants found across our beautiful sites. 🌺🐸🦜
Thank you to our team members and community who help us care for these natural treasures through thoughtful horticulture, planting days, and keeping our sites clear of litter. These habits sustain habitats, and we’re all the richer for it. ♻️🌱💚
➡️ If you’d like to know more about biodiversity and sustainability at SMCT, visit https://smct.org.au/sustainability

Have you booked your spot for the Project Cultivate BioBlitz this Saturday? 🔎🪲 We’ve partnered with the City of Melbourn...
01/03/2026

Have you booked your spot for the Project Cultivate BioBlitz this Saturday? 🔎🪲

We’ve partnered with the City of Melbourne to host a walk and talk and insect spot on site at Melbourne General Cemetery. Join insect expert Peter Rowland from Wildlife & Ecology and SMCT's Project Cultivate expert Helen Tuton as we explore this beautiful space and how it is strengthening buggy biodiversity! 🐞

✅Melbourne General Cemetery, Macpherson Street entrance
⏱️Saturday 7 March, 10am to 11.30am
🐝 FREE but bring your phone to identify and record insects on iNaturalist

To find out more and to register, visit: https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/bioblitz/2026 🦋

🌱💬 Have your say: shaping the future of historic spaces 💬🌱Have you shared your views on the horticultural future of St K...
23/02/2026

🌱💬 Have your say: shaping the future of historic spaces 💬🌱
Have you shared your views on the horticultural future of St Kilda Cemetery?
The community survey closes on 28 February 2026. Your feedback will help guide long-term horticultural planning.

Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts by completing the survey:
👉 engagewith.smct.org.au/cultivate-stk

Your voice matters. Help us cultivate the future! 🌱🌱🌱

Honour a love that lasts forever. 🌹 Our on-site florists at Cafe Vita et flores are creating beautiful tributes for Vale...
12/02/2026

Honour a love that lasts forever. 🌹 Our on-site florists at Cafe Vita et flores are creating beautiful tributes for Valentine's Day. Visit us in-store or order online to have flowers placed on your loved one's memorial

https://www.smct.org.au/services/florist


Grief rarely walks alone. Often, guilt walks beside it.For those who have lost a baby, child, or grandchild, the weight ...
11/02/2026

Grief rarely walks alone. Often, guilt walks beside it.

For those who have lost a baby, child, or grandchild, the weight of "what if" can be heavy. Guilt for what we wish we’d done differently, for surviving, or even for moments of joy.

This month, you are invited to a special Mindful Circle at the Centre for Care & Wellbeing, focusing on softening and releasing that guilt.
In a beautiful collaboration between SMCT and Red Nose Australia, we have created a safe space where your grief can be acknowledged gently and held with compassion.

Facilitated by Fotini, an experienced mindfulness practitioner, this session will guide you through:

• A meditation infused with healing sounds
• Space to meet yourself with compassion
• A time to simply rest and be

Event Details:

When: Friday, 27 February 2026, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Where: The Centre for Care & Wellbeing, Springvale Botanical Cemetery (600 Princes Hwy, Springvale)

Who: Open to all - parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends supporting a loved one.

What to bring: A water bottle and a light blanket for comfort. (Mats, pillows, and eye masks are provided).

After the session, we invite you to stay for a coffee and gentle connection at Cafe Vita et flores.

Come as you are, and leave feeling a little lighter.
Spaces are limited.

Secure your spot here: https://www.smct.org.au/events/mindful-circle

Take the first step today. Planning ahead is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave your family. Our planning to...
28/01/2026

Take the first step today. Planning ahead is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave your family. Our planning tools make it easy to record your wishes, so your loved ones aren't left guessing. Download your free MyLifebook: https://www.smct.org.au/plan/mylifebook

Address

600 Princes Highway
Springvale, VIC
3171

Telephone

+61385588278

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Our Story

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is a community based, not-for-profit organisation, committed to serving the needs of our communities. Over and above the funeral services we provide, we are committed to guiding families through the most important, long term decisions they will need to make when someone dies.

Our Vision

Our beautiful, iconic locations empower all communities to honour and celebrate life.

We support the living throughout their grief journey, through our innovative approach of personalised care and compassion.