Melbourne General Cemetery
Melbourne General Cemetery
4.5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Melbourne General Cemetery is both a beautiful and historic cemetery. It was established in 1850 and since then there have been over 300,000 burials. The heritage -listed cemetery is one Australia's most important cemeteries. It has distinctive denominational sections including graves of many early immigrants, including the Chinese and other nationalities who arrived for the Gold Rush in the 1850's. The cemetery is the final resting place of many famous identities. Our tours reveal an array of fascinating information about prominent and notable men and women from our rich and multicultural past. We run regular night and day tours.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
30 reviews
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wombatdavid
Hobart, Australia2,749 contributions
Jan 2022
We were walking past on the way to Sydney Road and chanced upon this place. We looked at some Italian graves and went on our way. I don’t think this is a tourist attraction...
Written 15 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lyndylou18
Augsburg, Germany537 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
Enjoyed a wonderful evening tour with a fantastic guide called Stella (?). It was so informative and fascinating hearing the stories of many famous Victorians including prime ministers who are buried here as well as Burke and Wills, Governor Hotham of 1854 Eureka Stockade Rebellion. It was interesting to see the huge mausoleums, heritage listed statues, gate houses and rotundas as well as the huge trees and Roses. The cemetery is divided into many sections including Jewish, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Anglican & a paupers section. 300,000 graves. I could’ve spent more time here. There is even a memorial for Elvis Presley. Definitely worth a visit and if you can join the tour, I’d highly recommend it.
Written 30 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melbgirl123
Melbourne, Australia788 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
There are very few attractions that's free in Melbourne so this place is really underrated. I recommend coming here and doing a free self-guided tour. It is a must for Australian history buffs. The cemetery is open every day to the public.
Getting there: take trams 19 if coming from Elizabeth St CBD or 1 or 6 if from Swanston St. Get off when you come to the end of Melbourne University's residential colleges. Then walk around 2-5 minutes to the main entrance with the blue stone Building Gatehouse.
What to see: I recommend picking up a free cemetery map and self guided tour from the Gatehouse and walking around. If you can't find the self guided tour pamphlet I have included it in my photos on tripadvisor and you can read of there.
Highlights include:
- Gatehouse museum to view old home, furniture, see the old original bell, see old furniture and colonial mourning costumers
- Elvis memorial
- Prime Minister's Garden where Robert Menzies, John Gorton, Malcom Fraser and Harold Holt are buried and the plagues wall to current and previous PMs
- see the old Rotunda where people use to have their picnics
- Burke and Wills monument
- Charles Hotham grave the governor that caused the Eureka Stockade
- Redmond Barry the guy who founded Melbourne Uni, State Library and sentenced Ned Kelly to death, and note the subtle plague to his mistress who is buried next to him
- Federici, the ghost who haunts Princess Theatre in Melbourne
- Mary Mckillop statue and Mausoleum, do take the lift underground and see the ultra modern underground mausoleum
- victims of the Holocaust Monument
- there are 8 Victorian premiers buried here, 1 Victorian Governor and 1 Governor General Issac Issacs and 90+ WW1 and WW2 veterans
- sandstone chapel in the middle of the cemetery
- or just meander through the different ethnic areas, there's a Jewish section, Greek, Chinese, Italian and then there's different areas for different denominations, roman catholic, Church of England, Methodist, Presbyterian
- my ancestor who came to the Bendigo gold rush is also buried here in the Chinese section
This cemetery is such an underrated free attraction for both locals and tourists. If you are happy to pay for a guided tour with their very knowledgable and entertaining guide there are night and day tours around once a month and cost $15.
Getting there: take trams 19 if coming from Elizabeth St CBD or 1 or 6 if from Swanston St. Get off when you come to the end of Melbourne University's residential colleges. Then walk around 2-5 minutes to the main entrance with the blue stone Building Gatehouse.
What to see: I recommend picking up a free cemetery map and self guided tour from the Gatehouse and walking around. If you can't find the self guided tour pamphlet I have included it in my photos on tripadvisor and you can read of there.
Highlights include:
- Gatehouse museum to view old home, furniture, see the old original bell, see old furniture and colonial mourning costumers
- Elvis memorial
- Prime Minister's Garden where Robert Menzies, John Gorton, Malcom Fraser and Harold Holt are buried and the plagues wall to current and previous PMs
- see the old Rotunda where people use to have their picnics
- Burke and Wills monument
- Charles Hotham grave the governor that caused the Eureka Stockade
- Redmond Barry the guy who founded Melbourne Uni, State Library and sentenced Ned Kelly to death, and note the subtle plague to his mistress who is buried next to him
- Federici, the ghost who haunts Princess Theatre in Melbourne
- Mary Mckillop statue and Mausoleum, do take the lift underground and see the ultra modern underground mausoleum
- victims of the Holocaust Monument
- there are 8 Victorian premiers buried here, 1 Victorian Governor and 1 Governor General Issac Issacs and 90+ WW1 and WW2 veterans
- sandstone chapel in the middle of the cemetery
- or just meander through the different ethnic areas, there's a Jewish section, Greek, Chinese, Italian and then there's different areas for different denominations, roman catholic, Church of England, Methodist, Presbyterian
- my ancestor who came to the Bendigo gold rush is also buried here in the Chinese section
This cemetery is such an underrated free attraction for both locals and tourists. If you are happy to pay for a guided tour with their very knowledgable and entertaining guide there are night and day tours around once a month and cost $15.
Written 29 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EssenJohn
Brisbane, Australia225 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
So much history here, just a fascinating time wandering around and looking for famous names. Get off at tram stop 115 on a #1 or #6 tram. And for some reason the graves for sale sign amused us greatly.
Written 26 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane G
Carlton47 contributions
Feb 2016
We did a night tour and it was fascinating. A snapshot of the people and stories of Victoria, along with fantastic architecture. Guide was knowledgable and helpful. Highly recommended for another side of melbournes history
Written 27 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,202 contributions
Mar 2022
One would not normally visit a cemetery as a place of interest but as a long-time resident of Melbourne I had never been and therefore a reason to go. Dating back to 1852 this large (43 HA) cemetery is the resting place or memorial of many famous people and four Prime Ministers. Three things were prominent. The first was the elaborate memorial to many families, particularly Italian, the second the dilapidated state of many of the graves, many moved by tree roots or just left un-cared for and the third, the division or religions across the cemetery.There are many historic buildings and some quirky memorials as well including the one to Elvis.
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
platypus150
Melbourne, Australia32,804 contributions
Sept 2021
When the settlers arrived here, Derrimut was one of the local leaders of his tribe. He warned the settlers of an impending massacre and was rewarded by being dispossessed of his country. He died destitute about 20 years later. His grave is here along with some of those who took his land.
Written 4 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
platypus150
Melbourne, Australia32,804 contributions
Aug 2020
It is usually very deserted here and one can have a socially distanced walk away from the crowds in the nearby parks. Some famous people are here, showing what happens to all of us eventually.
Written 8 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,202 contributions
Oct 2019
The cemetery opened in 1853 and covers an area of 43 HA just south of Carlton some 2 KM north of Melbourne CBD. Some 1.0 Million people have been buried in the place since it opened including four Prime Ministers (a headstone for PM Harold Holt is in the cemetery) and some others of significance. Although not the first place you might visit but if there is an interrst in history then this is worth a visit.
Written 26 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Creeping_Death_LA
Los Angeles, CA4,518 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I love walking around old cemeteries to see the beautiful carved stone work that we lack today. The decrepit run down tombs also add an eerie ambiance to these seldom visited sites.
Written 16 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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