A cemetery with rich historical significance
Originally opening in the mid 1800’s, this historic Victorian Garden Cemetery contains rich layers of history within the formal walled grounds. The tapestry of stories and memories is enhanced by the many notable local residents buried within the tranquil garden setting.
The cemetery’s grounds are interspersed with historically significant trees, ornate memorials, and heritage buildings. The entire cemetery and two outstanding monuments (Springthorpe and Cussen Memorials) are registered with Heritage Victoria due to their individual heritage significance.
There are many remarkable tree specimens within the Cemetery’s grounds, including specimens on the City of Boroondara’s Significant Tree Register. Trees and garden plantings throughout the cemetery are important for biodiversity, character and identity.
Boroondara Cemetery Master Plan
In October 2024, Boroondara Cemetery Trust commissioned the development of a Master Plan for Boroondara Cemetery located at 430 High Street, Kew. The project to develop the Master Plan is intended to be a collaborative effort between Boroondara Cemetery Trust, the project Working Group, key stakeholders and the local community.
To read more about the master Plan and how you can contribute, please click here.
Boroondara General Cemetery: past and present
Judith Voce
Boroondara General Cemetery, or Kew Cemetery, was established in 1858 on a 12.5 hectare site bounded by High Street, Parkhill Road and Victoria Park, Kew. Since then, there have been more than 80,000 burials.
The Heritage Council of Victoria describes the cemetery as “an outstanding example of the Victorian Garden Cemetery movement”. With its curving paths, park-like setting, and rotunda the cemetery contains significant heritage buildings recognised by the Heritage Council and the National Trust. Foremost are the Springthorpe Memorial, the Syme Memorial and the Cussen Memorial.
Overall design of the cemetery was drawn up by Frederick Acheson when he surveyed the land in 1859. In 1864 Albert Purchas joined the Trust and oversaw the layout, design and ornamentation of the cemetery for the next 45 years. It now features mature plantings, extensive rose gardens and many rare specimens of trees.
Buried here are many of Melbourne’s historical leaders, such as artist Louis Buvelot, publisher David Syme, artist and diarist Georgiana McCrae, High Court judge Sir Owen Dixon, Victoria’s first policewoman Madge Connor, and businessman John Wren.
The most recent architectural additions are the garden crypts, designed by prominent Melbourne architects, McIntyre Partnership, and constructed in 2001 from local materials. Garden crypts are available for above ground burial, and many options for interment of cremated remains in the Peace Haven Mausoleum, the lawn or the rose and azalea gardens.
A not for profit cemetery
Boroondara General Cemetery is a public “not for profit” independent enterprise. Our Board (Trust) is appointed by the government but do not receive funding or services from the state government. Revenue received from funeral services and the sales of graves and niches, along with our investments, is used for the staffing and maintenance of the cemetery. We are grateful to the many community volunteers who assist us.
Management
The cemetery is managed by a Trust appointed by the Governor in Council for five year terms. The eight current Board members come from all walks of life and backgrounds and offer their services to the cemetery as volunteers.
The Trust is looking for additional members. Previous experience on not for profit boards and in the fields of finance, IT, horticulture, marketing or legal practice would be advantageous, but anyone with any relevant skills is encouraged to apply. For further information on applying please contact Mr Haydn Robins, Chief Executive Officer, Boroondara General Cemetery on 98537025 or email h.robins@kewcemetery.com.au
Boroondara Cemetery Trust
Become a member of this important community asset
The Boroondara Cemetery is an operational cemetery and a place of historic and environmental importance located in Kew. The Trust is looking for additional members to join the Trust. Previous experience on not for profit boards and in the fields of finance, IT, horticulture, marketing or legal practice would be advantageous, but anyone with any relevant skills is encouraged to apply.
A Class B cemetery trust member is appointed for five years under s.6 of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. Trust Member positions are voluntary with no remuneration provided.
For further information on applying please contact Mr Haydn Robins, Chief Executive Officer, Boroondara General Cemetery on 98537025 or email h.robins@kewcemetery.com.au
A New Heart for One of Victoria’s Oldest Cemeteries
Alyson Crawford
The new, architecturally designed Garden of Reflection is now open at the historic Boroondara General Cemetery in Kew, known also to some as Kew Cemetery.
Designed by Lisa Ellis, the Garden of Reflection is a tranquil and inviting memorial landscape. A sculptural piece at the heart of this area was bequeathed by beloved local artist, the late Leopoldine Mimovich OAM, whose sculptures are a unique and recognisable part of the Kew landscape.
Boroondara Cemetery Trust CEO, Haydn Robins encourages community members to use the space for quiet reflection and remembrance. ‘Thoughtfully designed memorial gardens like the Garden of Reflection provide comfort, peace of mind, and a place for quiet contemplation’ Mr Robins said.
‘Whether your loved ones are with us or somewhere else, we all experience grief at some time in our lives, and people have told us it’s really helpful to have somewhere quiet to come and find peace.’
The Garden of Reflection was officially opened in October 2023 by Ms Jess Wilson MP. High demand for memorial positions in the Garden of Reflection reflects the important place Boroondara General Cemetery plays in the local community, and only a limited number of positions remain in the historic cemetery.
The prices of graves and cremated remains memorials in public cemeteries are indexed annually, and the next price increase will come into effect on 1 July. Various options are available to suit every need, from tranquil garden crypts to traditional graves and cremated remains memorials.
To find out more about the historic Boroondara General Cemetery., go to https://boroondaracemetery.com.au/, phone: (03) 9853 7025 or email admin@boroondaracemetery.com.au
Alyson Crawford is Manager, Corporate Services Boroondara Cemetery Trust
Roy’s Story
Sal Dugan, with thanks to Deborah Williams and Deborah Craven of the Kew RSL
Just a couple of months before the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide was handed down there was a ceremony held at the Kew RSL to mark the transition of boy soldier Arthur Roy Johnson’s unmarked and unkempt grave to an official war grave funded by the Commonwealth of Australia.
What we know of Roy’s story is thanks to his great-niece, Deborah Williams who, when researching her family tree, found far more about Roy than was generally known by family members or, indeed, by anyone else.
Roy enlisted on Christmas Eve of 1917, claiming he was nearly 19 and was Yorkshire born. Utter lies, of course. He was brought up in what is now Balwyn, and was only 13 when he ran away from home to enlist. However, he was tall for his age and, luckily for him by this late stage of WW1 anyone showing enough interest to enlist was taken on, seemingly with no questions asked.
It wasn’t until some months later that his very worried parents, who had reported Roy to the police as a missing person, received a postcard from him, saying he’d run away to join up. The postcard came from Egypt, where he was sent for training. From there to the UK and then to France where he was (mustard) gassed in the trenches. He was finally shipped home on 20 July 1919 and discharged two and a half months later.
The gassing led to severe epileptic-like seizures that prohibited steady work, so he applied for government assistance but, given his symptoms were not physical, ie amputations, gangrene, etc., his application was turned down. This made him very bitter.
Roy and his girlfriend Marge O’Connor intending to marry, but Roy felt he couldn’t support Marge because of his health issues. His seizures and depression from the war, together with the bitterness he felt towards the government for turning its back on him, pushed him over the edge. So, on 3 September, 1921 at age 18, he went to his room in his parents’ house in Balwyn and shot himself in the head with a pea rifle. His mother found him, and Roy was rushed to hospital but died soon after his arrival.
His suicide note was, surprisingly, published in one of Melbourne’s newspapers. It read: ‘Goodbye everybody, I am so sorry mother, but don’t worry, as I will be happy where I am going. I will never be any good, and it is best for me to be gone and rid of the world. I was never a very bad boy, but the war has upset me … well good-bye mother dear, give the letter to Marge, I love her dearly, but we can never marry now.’
The coroner’s report into Roy’s death said it was a wonder the authorities had accepted Roy for active service, and believed the war had accentuated his mental weaknesses. A finding of self-inflicted wounds was brought down.
In June 2023 Deborah applied to the Office of Australian War Graves to see if Roy might be eligible to receive an official memorial on his unmarked grave, which she discovered in the Kew Cemetery (now known as Boroondara Cemetery), where he was buried together with other members of the Johnson family. Her application, included all the relevant information (Coroner’s report, suicide note press clippings, etc). The response came on 30 October ‘23 advising the application had been considered and accepted. Finally, on 24 April this year, she learnt that Roy’s War Grave had been completed.