Personal Memorials in Public Open Spaces

Memorials at several desired locations are now at capacity and the City has put a hold on all new applications and approvals for personal memorials in POS. 

This has triggered a review of the service which is governed by a set of Terms and Conditions and a process. The services does not have a formal Operational Policy. 

Currently we are at capacity within our precinct areas and can no longer accept bench memorials in the following locations:  

• Point Walter  
• Blackwall Reach  
• Bicton Baths  
• Deepwater Point  
• Heathcote  
• The Esplanade  
• Wireless Hill  
• Kent Street Jetty  
• Jeff Joseph Reserve  
• Lower Heathcote  
• Tompkins Park  
• Melville Beach Pde  

We are also at capacity for tree memorials along Honour Ave at Point Walter. 

The City recognised the desire to commemorate loved ones within POS; as a result we asked the community if they would like the City to continue with the service and what potential options they would have liked. 

Feedback received informed a review of the City’s approach to personal memorials, including the development of a  policy, which was presented to and endorsed (with minor changes) by Council.

• Indicative costs for new benches were $4000 inclusive of concrete pad and plaque. 

• Indicative cost for a plaque only was $400. 

These costs are a guide only and are subject to change at any time. 

• Only family members of the deceased person could apply for a memorial.   
• The person to be memorialised must have resided in the City of Melville for a minimum of 10 years.  
• The City will only consider applications for people who had made a significant social and/or cultural contribution to the development of the local community and/or City of Melville.   
• To allow for the appropriate consideration, all applications for permanent memorials would only be considered where the person to be commemorated has been deceased for a minimum of 12 months.  

Prior to the service reaching capacity there were two options.

• Bench Memorials  – Either the purchase of a new bench, at the cost of the applicant, or the dedication of an existing bench. Examples of these memorials are located along many of our riverfront parks and reserves. New benches were the highest cost memorial while the addition of a plaque was a lower cost option. 
• Tree Memorials – A plaque positioned at the base of a tree, examples of this type of memorial have been located along Honour Ave at Point Walter. Tree memorials are a lower cost option but as trees are a living asset, may not be a permanent memorial.