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What do I need to know?
The most important piece of information is:
- the name of the cemetery
How do I search?
If you know the name of the cemetery trust, enter it into the search box below.
If you're not sure of the name of the cemetery trust you're interested in, you can first consult the list of cemetery trusts for which we hold records by clicking the "Search all" link below. Select the cemetery trust of interest from the results and then click the "Records" tab to browse the records we hold for that trust. Order those of interest for viewing in one of our Reading Rooms.
Whether you're using the first or second option, once you have selected the cemetery trust you can click the "Records" tab to browse the records we hold for that trust and order those of interest for viewing in one of our Reading Rooms.
About these records
Cemetery trusts are required to register who is buried in each cemetery. Most registers are still held by cemetery trusts, but some, particularly for closed cemeteries have been transferred to us.
Who created these records?
The records were created by various cemetery trusts.
Next Steps
If you are looking for burial records for other cemeteries, there are a few places to start:
- some trusts have digitised or indexed their records and provide access through their websites; others may provide a look-up service for a fee
- there is a Cemetery Search page on the Department of Health and Human Services website that lists contact details for cemetery trusts
- you can also consult genealogical websites such as ‘Find a Grave’ which collect cemetery records and gravestone photographs.
What are in these records?
A burial register may contain:
- the name, age, occupation, address and denomination of the deceased and the supposed cause of death
- the date and other information about the funeral
- the number and other information about the grave site
- the signature of the undertaker
- the cost
Most often the information is recorded in date order, so it is important to have at least an approximate date the funeral occurred.
However, burial records might come in several other forms. Some cemeteries keep records of graves or plots separate from the register of who has been buried.
Material in the Public Record Office Victoria archival collection contains words and descriptions that reflect attitudes and government policies at different times which may be insensitive and upsetting
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be aware the collection and website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.
PROV provides advice to researchers wishing to access, publish or re-use records about Aboriginal Peoples