Cemetery NSW

Macarthur Memorial Park

Mar 16, 2020

landscape architecture cemetery project plan

In 2012, The Catholic Cemeteries Metropolitan Trust embarked on an ambitious journey to provide a visionary landscaped cemetery for the whole of Sydney. Our practice was entrusted with the task of designing an inspirational burial place on a large parcel of land (113 Ha) in Sydney’s West. Boasting panoramic views onto the Blue Mountains, Sydney CBD and the Campbelltown Valley below, it sits within the Scenic Hills and surrounds the historic Varro Ville House. The land presents multiple constraints, as is often the case on what is left of Sydney’s land suitable for cemetery development, including steep topography, the presence of Moist Shale Woodland and Cumberland Plain Woodland, heritage curtilage extending beyond the boundary of Varro Ville house, riparian zones and waterways, Aboriginal and European heritage, the potential for bushfires and tight Planning Control relating to the Environmental Protection of the Scenic Hills.

In line with our long-held philosophy that cemeteries should be designed as parks and provide a unique legacy to future generations, the vision for site will enable the client to showcase how a cemetery should be a respectful, emotional, sustainable and resilient landscape:

A sculpture Park, offering opportunities for local and Australian artists
An arboretum for future preservation and education of generations to come.
A cemetery which respects and safe keeps the important colonial landscape.
A concept which respects the Land, its landform and ecology by carefully laying roads and built environment and limit their footprint.
Concealed, private and low laying burial spaces with no visible headstones, to minimise visual impact.

Buildings: FJMT.

Soft Landscape: BOTANICA.

Civil Consultants: WSP.

Stormwater Management: Stormy Water Solutions.

Read more on Macarthur Memorial Park website.

Macarthur Memorial Park

Client
Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust

Location
Campbelltown, NSW

Size
113 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Large multi-disciplinary team

Achievement
Largest greenfield cemetery project in NSW

Model
Click here to see project model

BACK

Nepean Gardens Memorial Park

Aug 25, 2018

Nepean Gardens Memorial Park

Client
Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust

Location
Penrith area, NSW

Size
21.5 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Large multi-disciplinary team

BACK

Rookwood Necropolis Masterplan

Aug 24, 2018

In late 2013, our practice was entrusted with the masterplanning of Australia’s largest cemetery and the largest Victorian cemetery in the world, a cemetery with considerable heritage value, ecological constraints and complex operational issues. This task would not have been possible without our extensive understanding of the cemetery industry and the new challenges it now faces. As a site of State Significance, Rookwood must learn to survive and manage change with the parameters set by legislation. Important consultation with stakeholders and the NSW Heritage Office was undertaken as part of the consultancy Based on our calculations, Rookwood is expected to run out of burial space within the next 30 years, making it crucial and urgent to lay out a clear plan of management for its landscape and few burial areas left. “Where can efficiencies be found in land-use? How can we extend the life of the cemetery? What should the cemetery look like when full? Should the public be invited within for activities other than interring? How can Rookwood become the best of its kind, a benchmark for the industry? These are some of the questions posed and answered during an 8-month process. The result is a comprehensive report with more than 180 recommendations of practical, innovative and challenging ideas. 2017-18 Update: Implementation has started with fence replacement, new entry points, spoil re- use and recreational shared paths.

Rookwood Necropolis Masterplan

Client
Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust

Location
Sydney, NSW

Size
286 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

Achievement
Largest cemetery in Southern Hemisphere

BACK

Edendale Northern Memorial Park

Aug 23, 2018

With the decision to drain an existing unsightly water storage pond, the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust determined to develop the area for prestige semi-monumental lawn graves and incorporate a creek system. We saw an opportunity for the first WSUD project to be implemented in accordance with our previous Stormwater management Strategy in this large cemetery. (refer Fawkner Cemetery Masterplan, the first cemetery Stormwater Management Plan in Victoria) .
The project included enhancing views to an existing creek, the development of a new ephemeral creek and the layout out of ornamental (not just functional) garden beds and burial plots. The ephemeral creek was designed to retain small water bodies along its route that would act as the end filtration device for storm water run-offs emanating for the future Northern Memorial Park extension.
Vehicular and pedestrian bridges were designed and located to provide effective connections to existing roads and paths while promoting views across the various water elements.
This is the most popular area in NMP, a claim we are proud of and attribute to the aesthetics, attention to detail and our understanding of the psychology behind the grieving process.

Edendale Northern Memorial Park

Client
GMCT

Location
Fawkner, VIC

Size
2.5Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary

Achievement
First WSUD project implemented at Fawkner Cemetery

BACK

Wollongong Lawn Cemetery Masterplan

Apr 7, 2018

In late 2014, Wollongong City Council embarked on a masterplanning exercise for 2 of its key interment sites, Wollongong Lawn Cemetery in Kembla Grange and Wollongong Memorial Gardens in Berkeley. Its aim was to ascertain growth opportunities, maximise the use of the location and identify areas for improvements whilst providing a financial and environmentally sustainable operation. Our practice put together a team of sub-consultants including Changing Places (operations advice), RSM Bird Cameron (Financial modelling), IGNITE (Architects), Triaxial Consulting (Engineers) and Biosis (Ecologists).
The tasks:

Analyse both the operations and the physical site
Conduct stakeholder’s consultation
Create a vision for both sites
Present recommendations for operational, landscape and building issues
Prepare a staging plan for the implementation of the above recommendations
Prepare a financial model for selected implementation scenarios.

Wollongong Lawn Cemetery Masterplan

Client
Wollongong City Council

Location
Kembla Grange, Wollongong, NSW

Size
40 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

BACK