Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate

The name Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate was derived from the Aboriginal word ‘woolong’, which means ‘much water coming together’.

Wooling Hill is located at Mt Macedon, less than an hour from Melbourne. Take the C708 turnoff and turn right under the freeway towards New Gisborne. Continue over the railway and arrive at Wooling Hill at the end of that road.

What sets this memorial garden apart from its rivals?
Firstly, it is not a cemetery, but purely the first privately developed and wholly Australian-owned Memorial Garden in Victoria. The owners were concerned about the lack of alternatives for people wanting to memorialise family and friends. Here you’ll find no graves, no headstones – simply memorialisation, this being the focal point to trigger fond memories of those departed. Secondly, the surroundings are worth a visit. This blissful location soothes people disturbed by the loss of loved ones. Situated at the foot of the gently rolling Macedon Ranges, the site unites manicured lawns, colourful gardens, hedges, shrubs and trees with picturesque water features to excite you. Importantly, the focus is on people rather than buildings, plaques or other elements. Staff are trained to deal with grief, demonstrating through their behaviour and sensitivity Wooling Hill’s commitment to the needs of families. They are proud to organise services around your needs, rather than those of the business. They involve families in all stages of planning. For instance, you might prefer to conduct a service outside conventional business hours. Recently, a twilight service attracted more than 120 attendees. Environmentally, Wooling Hill strives to maintain the rural heritage of the area which dates back to the early Gisborne settlers and includes the heritage-listed original Robertson Family cemetery complete with post and rail fencing. They also pursue a ‘good neighbours’ policy by using local suppliers and supporting community activities such as sponsoring a Bali Bombing Remembrance Tree in Gisborne. They endeavour to improve the environment by the responsible use of energy, recycling materials and water. They replace tree cover and use sprays and chemicals minimally. The on-site Atrium Chapel allows families to choose the style of service most appropriate to their needs and beliefs. Families may opt for their own celebrant, minister or priest to conduct a service. This non-denominational chapel is also available for other Celebrations of Life such as christenings and weddings. The myriad forms of memorialization are a distinct feature of this facility. Significantly, there is no 25- year tenure at Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate. Perpetual tenure guarantees peace of mind for families who will never again be challenged to pay for further tenua Bali Bombing Remembrance Tree in Gisborne. They endeavour to improve the environment by the responsible use of energy, recycling materials and water. They replace tree cover and use sprays and chemicals minimally. The on-site Atrium Chapel allows families to choose the style of service most appropriate to their needs and beliefs. Families may opt for their own celebrant, minister or priest to conduct a service. This non-denominational chapel is also available for other Celebrations of Life such as christenings and weddings. The myriad forms of memorialization are a distinct feature of this facility. Significantly, there is no 25- year tenure at Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate. Perpetual tenure guarantees peace of mind for families who will never again be challenged to pay for further tenure Families are at liberty to choose a memorial that best suits the person to be remembered. One family planted a peach tree as their mother was passionate about her peach tree; another chose a granite rock, appropriate for their father who was a bit rough around the edges. Dedicate one of the many flowering bushes, old-fashioned roses or small shrubs at Wooling Hill to someone special. Or select the Soft Peace option, an area where families may scatter cremated remains to symbolise freedom and peace with nature for those passed away. Though ashes may also be cast into the lake, management encourages families to retain a proportion for memorialisation to avoid that emptiness which might occur as time elapses, and to provide a spot for future generations for reminiscence. While traditional choices for memorialisation co-exist at Wooling Hill, the one that particularly appeals to me is a perpetual placement in the vineyard! I have many friends who would feel comfortable spending eternity among the leafy Chardonnay or Cabernet vines. The vineyard incorporates the vineyard garden with various memorial shrubs and roses. A real bonus Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate offers animal lovers is the facility to memorialise pets in the Field of Companions. Pets must be cremated at a pet crematorium then delivered to Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate in an approved container. Alternatively, Wooling Hill staff can arrange this for clients. Although the Field of Companions is primarily a Memorial Garden for Pets, there is no restriction on owners’ ashes being interred with their Companion Pet. The options of funerary containers available for pets is almost as vast as those for we mere mortals. Check out the website for details on containers and how and where to arrange a cremation for your beloved pet. This Memorial Garden offers the public unique services unavailable in other memorial areas. You can select a site in conjunction with other family members and develop a family theme. Clients are invited to be creative when interring ashes. Your design might utilise granite, timber, bronze, glass, set amongst floral features or located beside a peaceful watercourse. Prices and photographs are obtainable on the comprehensive website , enabling clients to browse before making a trip to Wooling Hill Memorial Garden Estate at Mt Macedon. Planning ahead for our own demise is recommended in this industry – both as a hedge against inflation and in order to assist with vital decision-making at a time when families are bereft. The gardens are open to the public seven days a week, so it might be an idea to grab a picnic lunch, pack the kids into the family car, and head off to explore the gardens and waterways of Wooling Hill and generally enjoying its serene beauty.