CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON VICTORIA'S LARGEST CEMETERY DEVELOPMENT
17 Jul 2025
Construction has officially begun on Harkness Memorial Park, which has been in the pipeline since 1972. The largest cemetery development in Victoria’s history, the park seeks to reimagine the public cemetery, delivering a space that is first and foremost a sanctuary for families to remember and grieve. As an innovative community space, new public facilities will make the site a welcoming multi-use space to celebrate life. This includes public access to venues, recreational spaces, suitable retail and parklands.
Located in Melton, 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne’s CBD, the site is more than three times the size of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens and is home to remnant woodland of ecological value, along with thriving wildlife.
The project has been developed by a consortium, with Aspect Studios as primary design consultant, Architectus as architect and WSP leading engineering and services. The masterplan released by the consortium elaborates on a major shift in their approach to public cemeteries:
"The experience people expect from cemeteries is evolving. It is moving away from the traditionally solemn, serious spaces we have come to know to less formal, reflective and sometimes celebratory spaces with unconventional memorials, amenities, and features."
Five key themes will be prevalent in the reimagined public cemetery:
- Sanctuary Visitors will experience feelings of warmth, comfort and peace. They will be able to see a living and continually developing place.
- Inclusivity Visitors will feel welcomed into an accessible local park, not just to remember loved ones but as a community centre. Visitors can experience a range of cultural influences that reflect representation and choice. The space will demonstrate the Aboriginal connection to land and the local stories of Traditional Owners.
- Sustainability Visitors will experience beautifully designed environments with native plants, animals and natural water features. Innovative, sustainable practices will contribute to the growth and development of the natural landscape, and sustainable facilities and processes.
- Innovation Visitors will be able to see a combination of traditional and new memorialisation choices. It will be a modern, regional park that inspires people to keep coming back.
- Trust - Visitors will be constantly reassured Harkness is organised and administered in a commercially and environmentally sustainable way.
Senior Associate at Aspect Studios Erwin Taal said that the firm’s “design vision is to create a sanctuary for all communities, cultures and faiths, but also one that is firmly grounded in the local landscape of Melton and the western volcanic plains and guided by the Wurundjeri Elders.”
The involvement of Traditional Owners has helped guide the design process, following principles of Designing with Country and Caring for Country. The project incorporates sustainable practices such as using native plants, locally sourced materials, and local suppliers.
Covering 128 hectares in total, the park will be developed in stages. The first stage, Stage 1A, will include about 11 hectares, with a ceremonial and operations hub and around 4,200 burial plots (from a future total of 140,000), including space for cremated remains.
This phase will set the foundation for the park, with a focus on infrastructure, landscaping and creating a welcoming environment for families and visitors. Construction is planned in two parts, early works and main works, with completion expected by early 2027.
