Sunbury Cemetery is a well-maintained, tranquil site covering almost 11 hectares, and located on the south-eastern edge of the Sunbury township.
A mixture of old and new, the Sunbury Cemetery offers a gentle blend of traditional monumental graves with the new additions of well-maintained and manicured lawn graves.
A memorial wall with rose garden is also available, providing an array of options when considering the memorial and final resting place for loved ones.
It is our goal to ensure that the Sunbury Cemetery is a place for peace, remembrance while also acknowledging the sites important history and heritage
Mr Richard Vandeloo JP – Chair, Sunbury Cemetery Trust
First gazetted in 1862, the Sunbury Cemetery has been serving as a final resting place for Sunbury and district residents for more than 160 years. Today memorials at Sunbury range from beautifully carved marble and granite monuments, to their modern bronze plaque counterparts.
Memorials and Markers
As a place of important and significant community history and heritage, the Sunbury Cemetery hosts a number of memorials and markers which pay homage to the Sunbury communities past.
ANZAC Centenary Marker
In commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War (1914-1918), the Sunbury Cemetery proudly hosts a poignant memorial marker, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who sacrificed their lives in the conflict. The memorialization effort by the trust is comprehensive, featuring symbolic elements that evoke the solemnity of the war. Among them, a lone pine planting stands as a living tribute, symbolizing hope and resilience amidst the devastation. This tree, deeply rooted in historical significance, serves as a living connection to the past, bridging the gap between generations.
Additionally, a striking sculpture depicting a light horseman and his horse graces the memorial site, capturing the essence of the war effort. This evocative artwork serves as a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice displayed by those who served on the front lines. The inclusion of interpretation boards detailing the narrative of the Battle of Lone Pine and the broader Gallipoli campaign further enriches the visitor’s understanding of the historical context. By providing context and information, the memorial becomes a space for reflection, education, and remembrance, ensuring that the sacrifices made during the First World War are never forgotten in the Sunbury community.
Children’s Memorial
A memorial can be found on site in remembrance of children from the former Sunbury Industrial School (1865 – 1879) buried at Sunbury Cemetery. Many children from the Industrial School were buried at the cemetery, unsurprisingly given the cemetery’s position within the Industrial School reserve, which was gazetted in 1864.
The Trust acknowledges the work of Elizabeth Wilson of the Sunbury Family History Society Inc. In identifying, collating and fighting for the memory of those names on the memorial that the Society was able to raise the much needed funds for. The plaque was unveiled on 20th October, 2004 at the 20th anniversary dinner of the Society.
More information can be found via the links below:
Sunbury Asylum and Mental Hospital Memorial
Patients from the Sunbury Asylum and Mental Hospital (1879-1985) and Sunbury Training Centre and Caloola Centre (1964-1992) were also buried on site and have a memorial established in their honour. The memorial was constructed by the Sunbury Cemetery Trust with assistance provided by the friends of Sunbury Public Cemetery Advisory Committee, the Leader Newspaper Group, the Sunbury Family History Society Inc, the Sunbury & District Heritage Association and Sunbury’s Helping Hand (Bendigo Bank).
