From pilot to preserving horticultural heritage
Project Cultivate was introduced to Melbourne General Cemetery (MGC) in 2023 to enhance the natural landscape of this historic cemetery, working to re-vegetate areas that were previously unplanted and managed with herbicide.
Through the application of organic mulch and inclusion of indigenous grassland plant species, SMCT aims to increase biodiversity while maintaining a respectful environment for families, visitors and the local community.
In the first two phases of the project, we planted over 250,000 locally native grasses, wildflowers, and groundcovers of 19 different species. We worked together with Traditional Custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, to identify and share stories around the plants – most notably the golden wattle.
During the final phase of Project Cultivate, the City of Melbourne's Urban Forest Fund provided matched funding to help us achieve our goal of planting over 500,000 indigenous plants at the cemetery, and we hit that target in August 2025. All areas suitable for this type of horticulture treatment at MGC have now been mulched and planted. SMCT has created a threatened, self-sustaining indigenous grassland ecosystem across 53% of this iconic, publicly accessible, and centrally located Melbourne landmark.
The project has already delivered a range of benefits, including:
- 3°c decrease in ambient air temperature around planted areas.
- Improved soil quality, reduction in erosion, run-off and water pooling.
- 95% reduction in herbicide use.
- A visible increase in biodiversity, including increased activity from beneficial insects and birds.
Ongoing commitment to biodiversity
SMCT cares for cemeteries in perpetuity on behalf of the Victorian community. Strengthening and improving biodiversity ensures the sustainability of historic cemeteries; literally bringing ‘new life’ to older cemeteries where visitation or availability of interments is lower.
“We’re seeing biodiversity come back to the site, we’ve had kingfishers move in, native bees, wildflowers, things that haven’t been seen there for 150 years,” says SMCT Horticulture Assets Manager Helen Tuton.
“The best part for us is that this project is another way for us to serve the Victorian community and the public. It’s at the heart of everything we do. To be able to present our site in a different way and to engage the community with citizen science and initiatives like planting days.”
“Cemeteries are all about legacy, and this is just another way we can create a legacy at the cemetery. This is a self-sustaining landscape that’ll be here for another 50 to 150 years.”
Undertaken in consultation with and involvement from families, the local community and Traditional Custodians, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the project successfully bringing new life to MGC.
Calling all citizen scientists!
More information about Project Cultivate at MGC
Please expand each section to learn more about Project Cultivate at MGC
- Early 2023: Holders of Rights received a notification of the works and an invitation to provide feedback. A first wave of research was conducted, with respondents rating the proposed changes 8.1 out of 9, demonstrating positive community feedback.
- May 2023: Intimate Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country held with Traditional Custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.14,000 wheelbarrows worth of mulch laid to improve soil quality on site.
- August 2023: 127,000 indigenous grasses, flowers and groundcovers of 19 different species planted throughout the cemetery grounds, minimising erosion, suppress weeds, and creating a natural biodiverse environment.
- October 2023: Planting days held with community groups, schools and local MPs.
- November 2023: Mulch installation commenced for second phase of the project, with close to 1,800m3 of mulch installed.
- February 2024: Event held at Melbourne General Cemetery with community, Traditional Owners and key project partners to celebrate the successful pilot, featuring presentations from SMCT, Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, and Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis.
- March 2024: Planting commences in the second area of the project.
- April 2024: Second wave research report conducted, with 87% of respondents rating the changes on-site positively.
- May 2024: Project Cultivate receives $500,000 of matched grant funding from The City of Melbourne to see the project through to completion.
- June 2024: Project Cultivate is shortlisted in the 2024 Tidy Towns & Cities Sustainability Awards, in the environment category.
- July 2024: The second stage of the project (Phase 1B) has nearly been completed, with an additional 135,000 plants installed.
- September 2024: Commencement of the third and final stage (Phase 1C) of the official planting project, in partnership with the City of Melbourne. Local primary schools and University of Melbourne took part in planting days.
- October 2024: Project Cultivate was announced as the winner of the 2024 Tidy Cities Sustainability Awards in the environment category. First larger-scale community planting day held.
- November 2024: Mulching commenced in Project Cultivate Phase 1C areas.
- March 2025: Mulching in Phase 1C areas has been completed, with planting set to commence in mid-Autumn.
- April 2025: Project Cultivate celebrates its nomination as a finalist in the National Banksia Sustainability Awards 2025 in recognition of the project's positive impact on biodiversity.
- August 2025: More than half a million indigenous wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, trees and groundcovers added to Melbourne General Cemetery! The 500,000th plant was added during a community planting day.
- September 2025: City of Melbourne verifies completion of Urban Forest Fund grant planting area, to be revisited in one year to note progress and outcomes.
- November 2025: Project Cultivate featured on ABC Gardening Australia
Learn more about our upcoming Citizen Science activities here:
Calling all Citizen Scientists!
View the pages below to learn more about our previous planting activities:
Project Cultivate Planting Day October 2024
Grassroots Planting Day August 2025
Through Project Cultivate, we’ll continue to enhance the natural landscape of Melbourne General Cemetery together with Traditional Custodians and the community.
To find out more or get involved in citizen science, educational projects or community planting days, keep visiting this page, sign in to engagewith.smct.org.au, or email environment@smct.org.au to be added to our Environmental Update newsletter.
For school or stakeholder engagement, please contact the Environment Team at environment@smct.org.au
Project Cultivate segment on Gardening Australia - https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/cultivatin...
Project Cultivate has gathered awards and recognition around Australia and internationally. See more below
Sustainability Award Winner
In October the project was announced as the winner of the 2024 Tidy Cities Sustainability Awards in the environment category.
The Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Awards from Keep Australia Beautiful (Victoria) celebrate inspiring community-led sustainability projects.
Visit Tidy Towns & Cities
Project Cultivate on ABC Radio National External site - Hear from Tanya Davidge (Open House Melbourne) appearing on ABC Radio National. Interview by Nick Triggle, BBC Health Correspondent.
Project Cultivate in Landscape Australia Magazine External site - Emma-Sheppard-Simms from Landscape Australia talks on the impacts of Project Cultivate.
Project Cultivate on ABC Radio MelbourneExternal site - Listen to ABC Radio's The Conversation Hour as they discuss Project Cultivate.
ACCA News External site - Project Cultivate featured in Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association News Autumn 2024 Issue (Page 18-19)
