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Ballarat Cemetery Picnic Day
Beginning in the late 1800s, cemeteries were prime picnic spots. Spending time in cemeteries was one way to reconnect with loved ones who had passed away. In collaboration with Ballarat Cemeteries and The Gatehouse Ballarat, we invite you to partake in this picnic tradition.
There will be many activities on the day to demystify the death and burial processes. You will have the opportunity to relax with a picnic hamper and enjoy live music performances. Picnic hampers are available for purchase from The Gatehouse Cafe. www.thegatehouseballarat.com.au phone 03 5331 2714 You can partake in a treasure hunt and tombstone rubbing, peruse the small market, go on a horse drawn carriage ride, and enjoy a high tea at The Gatehouse Ballarat.
Take part in various historical tours to learn about subjects such as the history of the Ballarat New Cemetery, the World War I veterans who hailed from our city, the history of cremation in Victoria, and Ballarat’s rich Chinese heritage dating back over seven generations.
Activities:
High Tea at the Gatehouse
Times: 11am and 2pm
Price: $45 per head
Details: Enjoy a catch up with family and friends for high tea at The Gatehouse. Our tiered stands are filled with a delicious selection of finger foods, petit fours and scones. Bottomless tea included. We are able to cater for vegetarian, vegan & gluten free diets. Each session runs for an hour, bookings essential.
To Book: Contact The Gatehouse 5331 2714 or book with the below links
11 am Session: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/149641394439
2 pm Session: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/149980881855
Talk and Tour – History of Cremation in Ballarat
Times: 10am, 12am, 2pm and 4pm
Details: Have you been on a CREMATOIRUM TOUR before? Maybe not, but have you wondered about the history of cremation in Ballarat (the first Victorian regional crematorium)? Learn about the first cremation in Ballarat and the history of the Ballarat Crematorium, with Ballarat Cemeteries CEO Annie De Jong. De-Mystifying cremation process, take a tour of the crematorium and learn how we care for our community since its opening in 1958.
OPTIONAL – After the talk, you can go on a 20 minute tour of the Crematorium, with the Ballarat Cemeteries cremators. Please note only 10 capacity limit within Crematorium. Tea and coffee will be available for those who want to wait.
Meet at the Ballarat New Cemetery Crematorium. Gold coin donation on arrival. Bookings essential.
To book: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/talk-and-tour-history-of-cremation-in-ballarat-tickets-149086466635
Walking Tour – Chinese section of the Ballarat New Cemetery
Times: 11 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
Details: Chinese people have been a significant part of the Ballarat community since the Gold Rush. While their numbers have varied the Chinese have been active members of the community. Our activity considers one aspect of their culture that is well recorded at the cemetery. The tour will include a general introduction to the Cemetery’s history and the religious and social beliefs that informed it’s construction and development and how this mirrors the Ballarat community. The tour’s specific focus is the Chinese section of the Cemetery highlighting the unique Chinese characteristic of its design and how it reflects a Chinese religious view of death which is in contrast to the cemetery as a whole which is dominated by a Christian perspective.
The tour will start and finish at The Gatehouse café, not suitable for wheelchairs. Gold coin donation on arrival.
Bus Tour – Ballarat New Cemetery
Times: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30 and 4pm
Details: Learn more about this beautiful community asset and enjoy a tour of the cemetery at this years Ballarat Heritage Festival. With one of the best views in town, an undulating botanical feel with over 2,500 roses and over 130,000 former residents interred there currently find out what has been going on at the 55 acre patch of land for the last 150 years.
You’ll be surprised, you might gasp at the historical stories, you’ll learn about a time when the burial rate was at an all-time high and why and where and who have resided in the Ballarat General Cemetery now and forever, at your backdoor.
Meet at the Ballarat New Cemetery Crematorium. Gold coin donation on arrival. Masks will have to be worn while on the bus. Bookings essential.
To book: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bus-tour-ballarat-new-cemetery-tickets-151159286495
Walking Tour – History of the Ballarat Cemetery
Times: 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm
Details: Join Eerie Tours guide Nathaniel Buchanan for a historical tour of the New Cemetery, featuring an explanation of different sections, Cemetery symbolism and architecture, and some interesting personal stories while highlighting the diversity and beauty of the Ballarat New Cemetery.
The tour will start and finish at The Gatehouse café (not suitable for wheelchairs). Gold coin donation on arrival.
To book: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walking-tour-history-of-the-ballarat-cemetery-tickets-149072859937
Walking Tour – WWI Cemetery Tour
Times: 1 pm and 3 pm
Details: We know we have around 1500 First World War soldiers and nurses buried or commemorated in Ballarat’s Old and New Cemeteries, each one of them with an individual story. Author of our book “They Answered Their Country’s Call’, Garry Snowden, will lead a walking tour to a selection of these graves and tell the associated stories.
The tour will take about an hour and start and finish at the Gatehouse Café.Gold coin donation on arrival. (Not suitable for wheelchairs.)
To book: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walking-tour-wwi-cemetery-tour-tickets-149078843835
COVID-19 UPDATE
Thank you to our cemetery visitors and community for social distancing and keeping our community safe.
Our team remain committed to providing a quality and compassionate service during these temporary adjustments. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we deliver our services has changed to accommodate current health and safety requirements.
To keep informed on current government guidelines please visit:
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-directions-faq or call the Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 675 398.
Funerals / Burials / Ash Placements have a limited of 10 mourners plus funeral and cemetery staff. Social distancing must be observed at all times.
The Sovereign chapel can accommodate 60 mourners in the chapel and an additional 30 people in our foyer area.
Outdoor social gatherings are not allowed at this time.
Our offices and staff are operating within the social distance requirements, this includes operating electronically. All of our services remain open and available.
To help you navigate these changes, please refer to the following frequently asked questions:
A loved one has just died, what is the first step I need to take?
After getting in touch with a funeral director, give us a call on 03 5332 1469. Our caring reception team will assist you with an appointment time to chat with a consultant about memorial options.
How do I organise a plaque?
To organise a plaque please fill out the relevant plaque form and email the completed form to us at enquiries@ballaratcemeteries.com.au (please note: this is only the first draft, our team will be assisting you before the final design is ordered). Once we have received your form, a consultant will be in touch to continue the process. Plaque forms can be found under the relevant locations on our website.
Please click on the appropriate link below to access the locations and find plaque forms.
Burial Plaques:
http://www.ballaratcemeteries.com.au/services-we-offer/burials/
Cremation Memorial Plaques:
http://www.ballaratcemeteries.com.au/services-we-offer/memorials/
Alternatively, we can email a plaque form to you. Please call us on 03 5332 1469 or email enquiries@ballaratcemeteries.com.au to obtain a form or for further assistance.
How do I collect the ashes of a loved one currently in Ballarat Cemeteries care?
Give our reception team a call on 03 5332 149 to arrange a collection time from our office. Our office hours are 8:30-5 pm Monday to Friday.
How do I select and purchase an Urn?
There are many options available when selecting an urn.
To view our complete range please click on the supplier links below. Once you have made a selection please email enquiries@ballaratcemeteries.com.au for pricing and purchasing arrangements. Urns will take around 4-5 days to arrive once ordered.
Final Touch Urns
https://cdn.flipsnack.com/widget/v2/widget.html?hash=c8qz20lcjl
Anakie Pottery Urns
https://www.anakiepottery.com/browse
R.H. Minter Urns
http://www.themintergroup.com.au/
I want to begin future planning, how do I make pre-purchase arrangements?
Our consultant team are available to assist with all future planning needs. To start the conversation about current options please contact us by phone on 03 5332 1469 or email enquiries@ballaratcemeteries.com.au. To view our current locations, visit http://www.ballaratcemeteries.com.au/services-we-offer/ to watch a short video presentation on each area.
Can you help us with a records search?
Our records can be searched via our website at: http://www.ballaratcemeteries.com.au/record-search/. Alternatively you may call us on 03 5332 1469 or email us enquiries@ballaratcemeteries.com.au to assist you.
Can I live stream a chapel funeral service?
We are pleased to introduce our new live stream service available for all Sovereign Chapel bookings. Arrangements can be made through your chosen funeral director.
Can I live stream a burial or placement of ashes service?
We are pleased to introduce our new live stream service available for all burial and ash placement services. Arrangements can be made when booking the service at the cemetery.
Can I visit a cemetery outside of attending a funeral?
Visiting cemeteries is only allowable for compassionate reasons or please use our grounds for your 2 hours of recreation a day.
Can we still use the cemetery for recreation purposes?
Yes you certainly can. Exercise through our beautiful grounds is permitted and encouraged.
FRUIT TREE PRUNING INFORMATION SHEETS
Due to COVID-19, our Fruit tree pruning workshops are unable to be held in 2020. Please find below the information sheets we provide at these workshops:
Fruit trees – Summary of diseases
ROSE PRUNING INFORMATION SHEETS
Due to COVID-19, our Rose pruning workshops are unable to be held in 2020. Please find below the information sheets we provide at these workshops:
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