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What do I need to know?
The two most important pieces of information are:
- the name of the cemetery
- the approximate date of an event you are interested in
How do I search?
If you know the name of the cemetery trust, enter it into the search box below.
If you are not sure of the name of the cemetery trust you are 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 are 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
PROV holds records from fewer than twenty cemetery trusts (see the Tip section for more information about records of other trusts). As well as burial records, these including meeting minutes, correspondence and financial records.
Cemetery trusts are responsible for the administration of one or more specific cemeteries. However, a range of government agencies have had a role in the regulation of cemeteries in Victoria. For more information, read the brief history of the administration of cemeteries in Victoria and explore the records of the relevant agencies, or use the PROV Visualiser to explore cemetery records.
Who created these records?
The records were created by cemetery trusts.
Next Steps
Once you have found records of interest to you, order them online and then view in our Reading Room.
What are in these records?
The contents of each these general administrative series varies, but can include:
- correspondence (inward or outward)
- minute books of meetings
- letter books (inward or outward)
- photographs
- newspaper clippings
- plans of proposed cemeteries
Most often the information is arranged in date order, so it's useful to have at least an approximate date, if you are researching a particular event relating to a cemetery.
Tip! If you are looking for records about cemeteries for which we don’t appear to hold records, there are a few places to start:
- the Cemetery Search page on the Department of Health and Human Services website lists contact details for cemetery trusts
- you can also consult genealogical websites such as ‘Find a Grave’ which collect cemetery records and gravestone photographs.
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