Upgrades and expansion work across Ipswich cemeteries
30 August 2024
In addition to planning for our growing community, Ipswich City Council also plans to increase burial capacity at its cemeteries.
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said work had begun at three of five council-owned cemeteries – Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery in Willowbank, Stone Quarry Cemetery in Jeebropilly, and Tallegalla Cemetery in Tallegalla.
Cr Antoniolli said with the Ipswich population projected to double from its current 256,000 to more than 533,000 by 2046, it was essential that council plan to cater for that growth – and that includes our cemeteries and other essential services.
“Council is undertaking extensive work across our cemeteries to ensure there is more space available in decades to come and to provide comfortable and appropriate surrounds for family and friends to pay their respects to loved ones," Cr Antoniolli said.
“Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery is the largest operational cemetery in Ipswich and recent works included the development of more than 1,500 additional burial plots, new shelters, seating, the creation of parking bays and planting of over 4,000 trees, plants and shrubs.
“Stone Quarry and Tallegalla Cemeteries are now scheduled for expansion works this financial year.
“Further master planning for all cemeteries, including Ipswich General and Haigslea, will be ongoing to ensure community facilities are upgraded or expanded to meet the need of the growing community.”
Cr Antoniolli said Tallegalla Cemetery, located on Rosewood Marburg Road, is one of Ipswich’s historic cemeteries serving the community, dating back to 1876. It has both monumental and lawn graves, as well as a columbarium wall and memorial gardens.
“Tallegalla cemetery is more than a century old and much-needed refurbishment is necessary with new areas created as soon as possible to meet community expectations,” he said.
“In the 2024-2025 Budget, council allocated $3.2 million to deliver Stage 2 of a major expansion to the cemetery.
“The works will include improvements to internal roads, landscaping and new amenities to support future growth, while protecting the heritage of the site.
“Several new burial plots will be created, two new shelters added with seating, a new formal parking area, plus upgrades to the informal parking area, a new amenities block and new asphalt roadway.”
The proposed expansion works at Tallegalla Cemetery extend north within the cemetery and below the existing heritage area and will not impact existing graves.
The project is currently in the design phase. Construction is scheduled to begin in October and run through to February 2025. Some sections of the cemetery will be closed during construction.
“Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery contains more than 12,500 burial and ash placements, and also offers columbarium walls, memorial gardens, scatter gardens and memorial walks,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“Council has built more than one kilometre of new internal roadways and designated car parking bays, including disability parking bays and improved storm water drainage linking to the existing burial areas.
“Council has also added three new shelters with tables and seating and planted more than 4,000 new shrubs, trees and garden landscaping, which will add to comfort levels for cemetery visitors.”
Stone Quarry works are also underway, with improvements to include new entry gates, an upgraded gravel road with new vehicle turnaround, a new accessible path and amenities building with additional seating, new planting, mulch and turf to disturbed areas.
“Council has moved closer to establishing an Islamic burial section at the Stone Quarry Cemetery following extensive community consultation,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“Feedback was sought from the Queensland Council of Imams, Muslim Funeral Services, and Imams from mosques across Ipswich.
“After unanimous agreement at council’s ordinary meeting on Thursday 22 August, council will now establish an Islamic burial section at the council-managed cemetery, reflecting the diverse needs and expectations of our community.”
The Stone Quarry Cemetery dates to 1875 and is the final resting place for many pioneers of the Rosewood, Ebenezer, Jeebropilly and Amberley districts with the first recorded burial in 1879.
More information about council’s five cemeteries can be found on council’s website.