We’d love you to join us at one of our community planting days or seasonal activities, held throughout the year as part of Project Cultivate at Melbourne General Cemetery.

Open to all ages and experience levels, these relaxed, hands-on sessions are a great way to connect with nature, meet others, and be part of something special—helping care for and grow this much-loved green space in the heart of Melbourne.

Our next planting day is on Saturday, 23 May 2026.

Help us plant more local wildflowers and groundcovers to bring colour to our thriving native grasslands.

By joining in, you’ll help make a home for local plants and wildlife. Be part of this groundbreaking project that's bringing diversity back to this iconic cemetery.

23 May 2026 | event details

Date: Saturday, 23 May 2026

Time: 10am–1pm; arrive anytime, and stay as long as you like

Location: Melbourne General Cemetery, Macpherson Street entrance.

Meeting point: Rotunda near the corner of Seventh Avenue and North Avenue: please enter via Macpherson Street entrance.

Parking: Paid parking available on the southern side of MacPherson Street, a short walk to the event.

Tram: 1 and 6 tram lines stop nearby, with the closest stop at 114-Princes Street/Lygon Street Carlton North.

RSVP by Wednesday, 20 May 2026

What to expect on the day

A brief introduction to Project Cultivate, information on the plants and how they contribute to biodiversity in the cemetery, instruction on how to give your plants the best chance to grow, and a whole lot of hands-on fun.

You can drop in any time during the event and stay for as long as you want.

Our planting day in August 2025 added more than 8,000 plants on the day -- helping us achieve an amazing milestone of half a million plants! It's not a competition... but how many plants do you think you can add?

Note to participants:

• Please be aware that we are working in an historic cemetery with uneven ground, old monuments etc. Please conduct yourself in a respectful manner, and be mindful of visitors on the day.
• Planting activities will require bending, and we have limited accessibility to some spaces due to older cemetery site constraints. Please be aware of your physical environment and personal abilities.
• Children must be supervised at all times by their parent/guardian.
• Photography/videography will take place at this event. If you do not wish to be involved, please speak with the event coordinators on the day.

This activity is being held on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nations, the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which Melbourne General Cemetery is located. SMCT pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.