Springvale Botanical Cemetery

About

The Springvale Botanical Cemetery is the largest crematorium and memorial park in Victoria, Australia, located in the southeastern Melbourne suburb of Springvale.

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, 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 pines, palms and gums. It is now administered by the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, which manages nine cemeteries in all, including the Melbourne General Cemetery, St Kilda Cemetery and Dandenong Community Cemetery.

- Frank Bladin (1898–1978), RAAF commander

- Scobie Breasley (1914–2006), champion jockey

- Sir Henry George "Harry" Chauvel (1865–1945), WWI Australian general

- A. R. Chisholm (1888–1981), French language scholar

- Sir Zelman Cowen (1919–2011), governor-general

- Frank Crean (1916–2008), deputy prime minister

- Judith Durham (1943–2022), singer, songwriter

- James Fowler (1863–1940), politician, author

- Charles Hegyalji (1956–1998), gangster

- Walter Hume (1873–1943), inventor, concrete pipe developer

- Richard Kelliher VC (1910–1963), soldier

- Graham Knight (1931–2026), Australian rules football player

- Jack Little (1908–1986), media personality

- Rosemary Margan (1937–2017), radio and television personality

- John McEwen (1900–1980), prime minister

- Bert Newton (1938–2021) TV and radio presenter, entertainer and actor

- Julia Rapke (1886–1959), women's rights activist