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Harkness Cemetery Masterplan

Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd / Harkness, Australia

Architectus, Aurecon, McGregor Coxall, and Greenshoot Consulting are collaborating on the design of a new cemetery at Harkness, Melton, marking Melbourne’s largest public cemetery project in over 100 years. Selected by the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT), this consortium of leading architecture and landscape design firms aims to create Stage 1 works at the expansive 128-hectare greenfield site adjacent to the Gilgai Woodlands Nature Conservation Reserve in Melbourne’s west.

The Harkness site endeavors to be a place that respectfully examines our relationship with memorialization, striving to foster care, connection, adaptation, and progression within the fabric of Melton and Melbourne’s greater western growth corridor. It presents a significant opportunity to invoke action, preserving memory while celebrating life through a design that supports individual journeys of growth and acceptance. Serving as a regional destination, the reimagined cemetery will be a space that restores Country, fostering connections between people and the land, as well as among individuals.

The masterplan for the Harkness site reflects these ambitions, addressing the needs of the community and guiding individuals through life and beyond along three key axes: ecological, cultural, and community. The Cultural Line serves as a striking threshold, accentuating the vastness of Melbourne’s West. The Natural Axis, represented by Arnolds Creek, underscores a commitment to Caring for Country and sustainable practices. At the heart of the cemetery lies the Core, situated at the intersection of the three axes, honoring the land and enhancing the natural landscape’s beauty.

Embracing principles of the Circular Economy – Regeneration, Resilience, Sustainability – the new cemetery aims to combat climate change and serve communities both now and in the future. Aspiring to be off-grid, it will rely on on-site sources for energy and water, with an integrated water management plan to capture, cleanse, infiltrate, and reuse water across the site.

Site Area

 128 ha

Services
  • Open Space

Collaborators
  • Architectus
  • Greenshoot

Awards
  • 2024 Pineapple Award - The Developer, Festival of Place Awards
Black and white portrait of a smiling person with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a light-colored sweater, looking slightly to the left against a plain grey background. The subject appears to be Miranda Wilkinson.
Talk to Miranda Wilkinson about Harkness Cemetery Masterplan
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An old, rusted farm machine sits abandoned in a vast grassy field under a cloudy sky. A dirt path leads to the machine, with a wooden fence and tall trees on the left side of the image, reminiscent of Harkness Cemetery. Houses are visible in the distance on the horizon.
A vast, grassy field is dotted with scattered trees under a cloudy sky. A fence runs through the middle, slightly separating the foreground of what could be part of a masterplan. Tall, wild grass and small shrubs are spread throughout the landscape, with distant hills on the horizon.
A vast open field stretches under a blue sky with scattered clouds. The ground in the foreground is a mix of bare patches and sparse grass. In the distance, trees line the horizon, and an old, rusted tractor sits to the right, close to the edge of what looks as if it could be part of a Harkness Cemetery masterplan.
A modern architectural structure featuring two grassy, triangular roofs with integrated paths forms the centerpiece of this masterplan. The design blends into a natural landscape with trees and grassy areas under a clear sky. Silhouetted figures walk along the paths, indicating human scale.
A serene park, masterplanned with winding pathways through lush greenery, features a central sculpture with a group of people gathered around. Two small ponds and tall trees enhance the landscape, while birds fly overhead and scattered stones and grasses add to the natural beauty.
A pathway winds through a parkland featuring a modern, circular seating area and a large, egg-shaped sculpture. Tall trees dot the landscape, and a family is walking along the path, with someone standing near the sculpture. The serene setting is part of the Harkness Cemetery Masterplan.
A serene landscape shows a reflective pond bordered by tall reeds and grasses. Trees with dense foliage are seen in the background, while a group of people stand on a platform near the water. The clear sky, a few clouds, and a flock of birds flying overhead contribute to the Harkness Cemetery Masterplan's tranquil beauty.
A serene park scene with a wooden boardwalk winding through marshy grasslands and ponds, surrounded by dense trees. Silhouetted figures of people walk along the path, reminiscent of a carefully designed masterplan. Birds are visible in the sky, adding to the tranquil atmosphere near Harkness Cemetery.
A lone figure walks along a wooden boardwalk that stretches into the distance through a tranquil forest of tall trees and grass. The scene is serene, with soft natural light and birds flying in the misty sky, reminiscent of the masterplan for Harkness Cemetery's peaceful pathways.
A wooded area with a sandy clearing features artistic human sculptures around a central, circular stone structure. Sunlight streams through the trees, casting shadows on a wooden pathway leading to the clearing. The scene evokes the serenity of Harkness Cemetery and feels both serene and natural.
Digital rendering of a spacious park with a modern design and masterplan. The park features a reflective pool, lush trees, a grassy area, and a geometric concrete structure. Several white silhouettes of people are scattered throughout, representing visitors enjoying the open space.
Aerial view of a vast park with a rectangular, tree-lined promenade at the center, surrounded by green fields and clusters of trees. To the right is a winding path through wooded areas. At the bottom left, buildings and a grid-like pattern of streets reveal an intricate masterplan.

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