On this page we answer the questions we're most frequently asked. If your enquiry is not covered within this section, please contact us for more information.
When is the Cemetery open for visitors?
Waverley and South Head General Cemeteries are open for pedestrians at all times. The main gates at Waverley Cemetery are open daily from sunrise to sunset should you need to drive into the cemetery to visit a loved one. South Head General Cemetery is closed to vehicles.
Are there any special rules I need to be aware of?
Our cemeteries are places of respectful remembrance so we ask that you please:
- always keep dogs on leash & clean up after them
- be aware and considerate of any funerals taking place
- don’t use monuments or gravesites for exercise & don’t walk on graves
- take your rubbish home
Where is the Cemetery office?
The Cemetery office is located at Waverley Cemetery, on the corner of Trafalgar Street and St Thomas Street, Bronte
What are the Cemetery office hours?
The Cemetery office is open Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm for general enquiries or outside of these hours by appointment.
What is the best way to contact the Cemetery?
The best way to contact the Cemetery for information is via our online form or email cemetery@waverley.nsw.gov.au
Are there tours of the Cemetery?
Yes! Friends of Waverley Cemeteries regularly conduct tours of Waverley Cemetery on weekends. These can be booked online via Eventbrite. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours and the funds raised through these tours are used in the restoration of historic monuments within the Cemeteries. Various tours are available, including General Historical Figures, Prominent Women, and Famous Sportspeople.
What is an interment right?
An interment right is a contract with a cemetery operator allowing burials in an interment site, which is also commonly referred to as a grave site or burial plot, at a particular location in the Cemetery. When you ‘buy’ an interment right, you do not purchase a piece of land. Instead, you purchase the exclusive right to decide who can be buried and what monuments can be built upon the site.
What is a perpetual interment right?
A perpetual interment right allows the rights holder to bury human remains in a particular interment site in a cemetery and for those remains to be left undisturbed forever (in perpetuity).
What is a renewable interment right?
A renewable interment right allows the licence holder to bury human remains in a particular interment site in a cemetery and for those remains to be left undisturbed for a set period. An interment right may be purchased for an initial term of 25 years up to 99 years. At any time prior to expiry, you can apply to the Cemetery to have the right renewed. Each renewal period must be a minimum of 5 years. A renewable interment right has a maximum tenure of 99 years.
When does the tenure period start?
The tenure period starts on the purchase date.
Who is the interment rights holder(s)?
The interment rights holder(s) is the registered ‘owner’ of the interment right and has all rights over the interment site. There can be more than one interment rights holders and they are responsible for future interments, monumental works and maintenance. It is therefore important that the interment rights holder keeps their contact details up to date.
How many interment rights can a person purchase?
One interment right is issued per individual interment site and a maximum of two interment rights may be purchased by any one individual.
How many people can control an interment right?
An interment right can be held by one person or equally by two or more people as joint holders, allowing them to be interred at the same, or adjoining sites. When one joint holder dies, the remaining right holder/s becomes the holder/s of the right.
How do you transfer control of an interment right?
A transfer of interment rights application needs to be completed, lodged and approved by the Cemetery.
Who can have an interment right transferred to them?
Interment rights can be transferred in two ways.
- Firstly, the holder of an interment right can transfer that right to whoever they wish subject to making application to and receiving approval from the Cemetery.
Transfer of an interment right form - Secondly, an interment right that is held by a deceased person can be transferred to a descendant(s) of that person either as the beneficiaries of the estate or in the absence of any probated will by proving their direct lineage to the last known interment rights holder.
Hereditary transfer of an interment right form
What information do I need to supply for a transfer?
The Cemetery require copies of the registered deceased interment rights holder's Probated Will or Certified Death Certificate from the Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages. In the absence of those documents further documentation including birth, death and / or marriage certificates will be required to establish the direct lineage to the last know interment rights holder.
What happens if it is not transferred?
Without an up-to-date interment rights holder, no interment or monument work can be completed, and the Cemetery will not be able to keep interested members of a family up to date with the most current requirements for interments, maintenance, memorials, etc.
Can an interment right to an interment site be sold?
There are two options;
- a) the Cemetery may consider purchasing an unexercised and unencumbered interment right back from an interment rights holder at a value negotiated between the rights holder and Council
- b) Interment rights holders may sell their interment rights privately. Privately bought interment rights will only be able to be exercised upon application for transfer in accordance with Sections 58 and 60 of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (NSW).
Why is it important to keep the interment rights holder's details for an interment right current?
It is important to keep the interment rights holder's details current as that person's written permission is needed to make any changes necessary to the monument or to request approval for interments.
What are the fees related to interment rights?
Fees for the purchase, transfer, or renewal of an interment right and other services provided by Waverley and South Head General Cemeteries are published annually in Waverley Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.
How do I organise an interment?
Applications for interment are made on the following form. At least 48 hours’ notice to the Cemetery is required for interments, with the date and time to be confirmed by Cemetery staff. The application for interment form should be completed to request a coffin or ash interment. A death, cremation of embalming certificate is also required. Interment services are available Monday - Friday from 9am - 2.30pm. Later times or services on the weekend may be available but incur an additional fee.
Can you prepay your interment fees?
This fee is payable at the time of an interment.
What is the size of a burial interment site?
Interment sites in Waverley Cemeteries vary in size depending on location and the original Cemetery layout. Burial sites that are available for sale are generally single interment sites with dimensions of 8ft x 3ft, or 2.4mt x 0.9mt.
How many people can be buried in an interment site?
Burial interment sites can hold 2 coffin burials with a potential 3rd coffin subject to site limitations and confirmation by Cemetery staff. In addition, burial sites can also accommodate up to 9 Ash urns or unlimited ashes if the ashes are poured into the site without an urn. The number of interments within family Vaults and Mausoleums varies based on the size of the interment site.
Do interment sites with kerbing and memorials restrict sizes of coffins that can be interred?
Yes, the width of the interment site and the foundations and footings for kerbing and existing monuments are a significant determining factor in allowing a coffin to be lowered. Prior to confirming an interment, Cemetery staff will undertake exploratory excavation and advise the applicant of any specific site limitations.
Can you inter ashes into a burial interment site?
Yes, ashes can be placed into a coffin burial interment site, although we do have specific ash memorial gardens available.
Do you need to be the interment rights holder to request the interment of ashes?
Waverley Cemeteries require the current interment rights holder to sign and apply for any interments.
Do you need to be there when the ashes are being interred?
No, this is at the discretion of family and friends.
Where will the ashes be interred in the interment site?
The interment rights holder can make a request; however, cemetery staff will need to check the grave before confirmation and will generally place the ashes in an area that will not need to be disturbed for additional family interments in the future.
Applications for interment are made on the following form. At least 48 hours’ notice to the Cemetery is required for interments, with the date and time to be confirmed by Cemetery staff. The application for interment form should be completed to request a coffin or ash interment. A death, cremation of embalming certificate is also required. Interment services are available Monday - Friday from 9am - 2.30pm. Later times or services on the weekend may be available but incur an additional fee.
Can you prepay your interment fees?
This fee is payable at the time of an interment.
How do I organise a new memorial or repair an existing memorial for my interment site?
Interment rights holders may organise the provision of new monuments, additional plaques, or maintenance to existing memorials. If you wish to organise for memorial work the Cemetery provides an approved list of monumental masons (LINK) you can contact to discuss your requirements.
Are there any restrictions on the type of memorial I can organise?
Both our Cemeteries are State heritage listed and any new or restored memorials must be in keeping with the colours, finishes and textures of the existing memorials as outlined in the Conservation Management Plan. The monumental masons on our approved list are familiar with these requirements and can advise you of your options. All applications for monumental masonry work must be submitted to Waverley Cemeteries for ’s final approval.
What maintenance options do I have for my interment site?
We provide a basic annual maintenance program to all interment sites during the year. We maintain the aisles and the tops of interment sites as part of our regular operations. We also offer additional services, for example upgraded care maintenance plans, re-soiling or re-turfing and plant outs of allotments and washing or cleaning of monuments. Details of the range of services and the application form can be found here.
Can I tidy up or repair my old family gravesite even though I am not the interment rights holder?
We encourage family members to tend to their family allotments. As a non-rights holder you can also apply through a monumental mason to organise minor repairs to existing monuments or memorials (LINK). Non-rights holders can also apply for one off grave maintenance services.
For any major restoration, repair work or construction of new monuments or memorialisation you will require the permission of the Cemetery Manager and the rights holder. If the rights holder is deceased, you will need to transfer the interment rights into your name.