Cemeteries of Tomorrow – Securing Financial Sustainability: This webinar covers three key focus areas, supported by real case studies, global precedents, and practical insights for cemetery operators, planners, designers, and governance teams. Section 1 – From Burial Plots to Mixed-Use Memorial Parks Presented by Dr Gelareh Holden In this opening section, Dr Holden reframes the traditional idea of cemeteries as quiet, single-purpose spaces. Instead, she explores how these landscapes can evolve into multifunctional, community-centred places that balance remembrance with everyday use. Drawing on international examples and local Australian projects, she demonstrates how thoughtful design, diverse programming, and integrated amenities—such as gardens, walking paths, cafés, play areas, and cultural spaces—can transform cemeteries into vibrant public environments. Dr Holden also discusses how mixed-use memorial parks strengthen financial resilience by diversifying income streams, reducing reliance on burial plot sales, and improving long-term sustainability. Through case studies like Bunurong Memorial Park, Altona Memorial Park, and heritage sites abroad, she illustrates how design innovation and community activation can create places that honour the past while enriching the lives of the living.
