1871 Deed to Legitimise burial operations |
The sudden sprawl of the city after the gold rush significantly increased the demand on the cemetery. The northwards expansion of the city of Melbourne, along with the creation of the Carlton Gardens meant that the possibility of extending Melbourne General Cemetery’s boundaries was always going to be limited.
Crown Land authorities were initially reluctant to allow expansion of the cemetery, however a major cemetery extension occurred from 1858-1860. The cemetery’s borders were extended to include the winding entry through Princes Park and a new southern boundary. Melbourne General Cemetery now covered an area of 40 hectares (100 acres) |
| While the Melbourne General Cemetery Trust made several requests, it was not until 27th July 1871 that an official deed was registered at the titles office. This legitimised burial operations.
By January 1877 the Trust of Melbourne General Cemetery recognised the need to secure land for a future cemetery site to service the growing needs of the Melbourne community. Albert Purchas, the architect who designed Melbourne cemetery, assisted the Lands Department in selecting an appropriate site. In 1878, additional land was purchased by the Hon. Francis Longmore at Springvale. |
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