An End to the Cemetery !

A hundred years ago there was little other option for the disposal of the dead than to dig a hole six foot deep in consecrated ground.  We called that a " Cemetery ".  The problem is that land set aside for that purpose in Sydney is fast reaching the point where no further burials will be possible.  It will soon reach capacity.

The biggest cemetery in Sydney is Rookwood and the Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust is looking to buy new land to create new burial sites.  One of the sites under consideration is the heritage listed  Fernhill estate in western Sydney and this is bitterly opposed by many people, including the   New South Wales branch of the National Trust.

Fernhill Estate was once the home of colourful Sydney property tycoon Warren Anderson and it contains the Georgian mansion  in which lavish parties were once held.  It is considered iconic and owners of surrounding properties are dismayed at the thought that is may be converted into a panorama of ugly headstones and monuments.   Every second house in Mulgoa road has a  " No cemetery in Fernhill "  sign on its front lawn.

The decision rests in the hands of the Minister for Lands, Paul Toole and it is being opposed by two former Liberal politicians who once held that seat, together with both the present member, Tanya Davies and the Minister for Western Sydney,  Stuart Ayres.   It is quickly building into a movement to end the custom of burials in the confines of greater Sydney.

The problem with cemeteries is - longevity.  Graves that are well tended shortly after burial fall into decay as generations pass and eventually old cemeteries become a wasteland. Cremation  is fast overtaking burials because it is more efficient and cheaper and memorials that were once hugely expensive works of art are now replaced with a simple plaque or the scattering or ashes in a favoured location.

We are a small population in a giant continent and for cultural and religious reasons it is unlikely that burials will totally cease, but the cemeteries that are available for burial may soon be far away from the Sydney city confines.  Land in Sydney is expensive as its use is sought for both industry and housing.  A new custom must emerge that those demanding a burial must be prepared to accept a location in what we would now describe as " near country ", possibly a considerable car journey away from the nearest city suburb.

Country towns which avoid the price expansion for land my still continue burial practices and those within reasonable distance of a city may benefit by providing this service, but it seems inevitable that city ordinances may soon legally prevent land acquisition for new cemeteries.

Despite objections,  the government approved the recent purchase of Wallacia Golf course by Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries for creation of a new cemetery.  It is quite possible that the rejection of this Fernhill proposal will be the turning point where the creation of new cemeteries in Sydney ceases.   The funeral industry would be wise to adapt to this change to a distant venue and plan accordingly.