Harkness Memorial Park: a place for life, remembrance and community

THE Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) is developing Victoria’s largest new cemetery in 100 years: Harkness Memorial Park.

Opening in 2027 in the City of Melton, the park will serve the growing community in ways that honour both remembrance and daily life.

For many people, cemeteries are places of deep personal significance, where we remember loved ones and honour the stories, connections and memories that shape our lives.

Harkness Memorial Park will continue this important role, while also offering something broader: a beautiful space where communities can gather, reflect, and celebrate life.

Historically, cemeteries often served wider community functions. They provided open space in growing cities and were places for hosting picnics and social gatherings.

Harkness Memorial Park represents an opportunity to reclaim this tradition while meeting the needs of modern Melbourne.

A place where remembrance and daily life meet

GMCT is designing Harkness Memorial Park to be more than a place visited only in times of loss. The vision is for a cemetery within a park, rather than the other way around – a space where remembrance and community life naturally intersect.

This unique design means families can build ongoing connections to a place that supports their wellbeing.

Walking in beautiful landscapes, gathering with friends, participating in community events, and finding quiet moments of reflection all contribute to emotional health and a stronger sense of belonging within the community.

GMCT is transforming the former wheat fields at Harkness into beautiful green spaces for families and communities to gather, reflect and celebrate life. Trees and indigenous species have been selected for their resilience, beauty and connection to the local Melton landscape. These species will support local birdlife and help create a space that is both ecologically rich and deeply meaningful.

Create an intergenerational family legacy

For many families, choosing a memorial place is not only about the present, but about the future. Harkness Memorial Park offers a unique opportunity to create an intergenerational legacy: a place where family stories, values and memories can be shared by generations to come.

The first stage of the park will provide a range of interment and memorial options and a ceremonial space for funeral services and functions.

As construction progresses, GMCT invites families to submit an obligation-free expression of interest, to help us understand what matters most to families and ensure we can meet demand when the park opens.

To learn more or register your interest, visit harkness.gmct.com.au/enquire or email [email protected]

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