Overview of cemeteries
Council’s Regional Services Directorate controls sixteen cemeteries within the Tamworth Regional Council local government area. Ten of these cemeteries are available for burials. The remaining six are closed except where prior reservations have been made. All of the cemeteries are denominational with non-denominational lawn sections available in Tamworth and Barraba Cemeteries.
Council is responsible for all interments, reservations, liaison with funeral directors, record keeping, genealogy enquiries, ongoing maintenance and asset improvement. Council acts as the cemetery authority in accordance with all legislative requirements relating to these cemeteries.
What cemeteries does Tamworth Regional Council manage?
Historical Cemeteries (closed except where prior reservation has been made):
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Hallsville
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Manilla Road, Hallsville
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Niangala
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Walsh Road, Niangala
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Somerton
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Somerton Tip Road, Somerton
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War Cemetery
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25 Forest Road, North Tamworth
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Weabonga
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Weabonga Road, Weabonga
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Winton
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New Winton Road, Winton
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Operational and Available for Burial:
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Attunga
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Ridge Street, Attunga
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Barraba
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Memorial Drive, Barraba
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Bendemeer
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Frederick Street, Bendemeer
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Bowling Alley Point
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Nundle Road, Bowling Alley Point
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Dungowan
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Ogunbil Road, Dungowan
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Hanging Rock
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Forest Way, Hanging Rock
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Manilla
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181 Namoi River Road, Manilla
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Moonbi
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Thomas Street, Moonbi
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Nundle
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Nundle Creek Road, Nundle
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Tamworth
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Showground Road, Tamworth
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How long has Council managed the cemeteries?
By the early 1960s, the custodianship and management of the Cemeteries by church trustees, particularly in rural based areas, was becoming increasingly difficult. Maintenance costs, together with decreased revenue from the sale of burial plots, had led to a general diminishing of the appearance of many of the cemeteries. Similarly, there was no coordination of the maintenance activities.This resulted in varying standards of appearance in the religious denominational sectors of each cemetery. In the late 1960s, Councils took over the control and administration of these Cemeteries. Many of the documented records received from each denominational church trustee were very poor or incomplete resulting in many unknown and unmarked graves.
What are the fees charged for Council cemeteries?
Generally, the costs for interment in a Council cemetery are included in the Funeral Director’s charges when a burial takes place. A full list of list of cemetery fees and charges is outlined below.
Cemeteries - General
These charges apply to all Cemeteries unless noted child burials apply to individuals up to 12 years of age.
| Title of Fee/Charge |
Fee/Charge for 2011/2012
(GST Inclusive $) |
| Application for approval for private burial plot, includes inspection |
353.00 minimum charge |
| Scattering of Ashes (Tamworth only) |
318.00 |
| Permission to erect kerbing, head or footstone, slab over grave |
79.00 |
General section
| Title of Fee/Charge |
Fee/Charge for 2011/2012
(GST Inclusive$) |
Adult Grave Plot (single and double depth)
NB: General Section grave sites are
notavailableatTamworthCemetery |
587.00 |
| Adult interment and grave digging (weekdays) |
604.00 |
| Adult Exhumation (for any reason) |
668.00 |
Adult Interments and grave digging (weekend/after hours
additional) |
540.00 |
Infant Grave Plot (single and double depth)
NB: General Section grave sites are not available at
Tamworth Cemetery |
511.00 |
| Infant interment and grave digging (weekdays) |
441.00 |
| Infant Exhumation (for any reason) |
668.00 |
Infant interment and grave digging (weekend/after hours
additional) |
540.00 |
| Re-Open a double depth grave – Adult |
446.00 |
| Re-Open a double depth grave – Infant |
156.00 |
| Placement of Ashes |
113.00 |
| Reception of ashes for burial |
79.00 |
Lawn section
(a) Tamworth lawn cemetery
| Title of Fee/Charge |
Fee/Charge for 2011/2012
(GST Inclusive $) |
Adult Plot (single and double depths, includes plaque and
interment),weekdays only |
2,417.00 |
Infant Plot (single and double depths, includes plaque and
interment),weekdays only |
1,569.00 |
| Adult interment and grave digging (weekdays) |
604.00 |
| Infant interment and grave digging (weekdays) |
511.00 |
| Additional fees for weekend/after hours burials |
540.00 |
Re-Open a double depth grave – Adult, includes a 2nd
detachable plaque |
858.00 |
| Re-Open a double depth grave – Infant |
272.00 |
| Placement of Ashes |
176.00 |
(b) Barraba lawn cemetery
| Title of Fee/Charge |
Fee/Charge for 2011/2012
(GST Inclusive $) |
| Adult Plot (single and double depths) |
587.00 |
| Infant Plot (single and double depths) |
511.00 |
| Adult Interment and Grave Digging (week days) |
716.00 |
| Infant Interment and Grave Digging (week days) |
511.00 |
| Additional Fees for Weekend/After hours burials |
540.00 |
| Plaque |
At cost of application |
| Re-open a double depth grave – adult |
446.00 |
| Re-open a double depth grave – infant |
156.00 |
| Re-open a double depth grave – ashes only |
113.00 |
Columbarium
(a) Tamworth
| Title of Fee/Charge |
Fee/Charge for 2011/2012
(GST Inclusive $) |
| Niche and perpetual maintenance |
459.00 |
Plaque
NB: Variations to the standard plaque will be on an at cost
basis |
At cost on application |
(b) All other regional cemeteries
| Title of Fee/Charge |
Fee/Charge for 2011/2012
(GST Inclusive $) |
| Niche and perpetual maintenance |
285.00 |
Plaque
NB: Variations to the standard plaque will be on an at cost basis |
At cost on application |
Which cemeteries have burial sites (plots) available for reservation?
Reservations can be made for the following cemeteries:
- Attunga
- Barraba
- Bendemeer
- Bowling Alley Point
- Dungowan
- Hanging Rock
- Manilla
- Moonbi
- Nundle
- Tamworth Lawn
If you (or a Funeral Director on your behalf) wish to reserve a burial plot you must complete an Application for Reservation and pay the appropriate fee as listed in Council’s Management Plan. A Right of Burial certificate is then issued to the applicant granting them the exclusive right of burial in the allocated burial plot.
What is a right of burial?
A Right of Burial is an ‘exclusive’ right granted by Council (or its predecessors) for use of a burial or cremation (ash interment) site. There is no entitlement to ‘land’. The holder of the Right of Burial has the sole authority to determine who can be interred (buried) in the grave or cremation site/plot and to allow headstones, inscriptions, memorials to be placed on the site. The ownership of the land, wall or garden remains with the Council.
How many burials can you have in a plot?
The maximum number of burials in a plot is limited to two. However, the depth of a plot will depend on the depth of the first burial and maybe restricted by the natural ground conditions (rock, water table, type of soil). The location of adjacent burial sites with existing monumental work can also determine whether a second interment can be located into an existing plot. The Public Health (Disposal of Bodies) Regulation 2002 (Clause 20) has guidelines for minimal soil depth requirement. If the first interment (burial) is excavated to a depth of 2.1 meters, the site will accommodate two burials. Tamworth Regional Council readily accommodates double depth plots in their lawn cemeteries at Tamworth and Barraba.
What is a permit to bury?
A Permit to Bury certificate is issued only at the time of death. The permit is required prior to any interment (burial) in the Tamworth Regional Council cemeteries. It indicates that Council authorises a Funeral Director to bury a deceased person in a particular plot in its Cemetery. The Funeral Director must complete and lodge an Application for a Burial Permit prior to the funeral/burial. Families making funeral arrangements for interments (burials) liaise directly with a Funeral Director. The Funeral Director then coordinates with Council on the allocation of a new gravesite or reservation confirmation.
What is a niche wall or columbarium wall and where are they located?
A Niche Wall or Columbarium Wall is a specially designed wall where ashes of the deceased are placed. Only one set of ashes can be interred in each space. A bronze plaque is affixed to the front of the wall covering the space.
The following cemeteries within the Tamworth Regional Council area have niche walls:
- Barraba
- Manilla
- Nundle
- Tamworth Lawn
Niche spaces are available for immediate use and for reservation. Wall maps are available to show available spaces to purchase. A bronze plaque is to be arranged by the Next of Kin prior to placement of ashes into the Niche Wall.
Where else can ashes be interred?
The May Garden is located within the Tamworth Lawn Cemetery, specifically for the interment of ashes. The May Garden is available for immediate use and for reservation. A map is available showing available spaces to purchase. The Next of Kin can arrange a bronze plaque prior to placement of the ashes into the garden or alternatively, the plaque can be arranged after the interment.
The Rose Garden also exists in the Tamworth Lawn Cemetery for ash interments, however there are no remaining available plots in this section.
Ashes may be interred with burial plots, however, permission from the family of the existing burials is required.
Are there any lawn cemeteries within Tamworth Regional Council area?
Lawn portions are located within the Tamworth Cemetery and the Barraba Cemetery.
Tamworth lawn
This section was opened in January 1972. Following the opening of the Tamworth Lawn, Council resolved that no further interments be permitted in the General Portion of the cemetery unless written proof of ownership is produced (eg a Right of Burial). In these instances, only one grave excavation is to be undertaken per site.
Council established the Lawn Cemetery as a non-denominational burial place with restrictions placed on the monumental adornment of graves. Council only sells sites for burials and reservations in the Lawn Cemetery but conducts burials in both the lawn and general sections.
In 1985, a separate Children’s Lawn Portion was established for the interment of children under the age of 12 years.
Barraba lawn
The lawn portion at Barraba Cemetery was established in the mid 1980’s. It is a non-denominational burial place and the majority of new burials and reservations are encouraged towards this portion. Restrictions are placed on the monumental adornment of the graves in the lawn portion.
Council will sell sites in the general portion if an appropriate site is available and will conduct burials for all reserved plots in this portion.
What type of monument (headstone) is permitted?
All monumental works carried out in Tamworth Regional Council managed General Cemeteries are subject to prior approval by Council. Council will only grant a monumental permit with the consent of the Grantee of the Right of Burial. The headstones design and size must meet Council’s “Guidelines for Monumental Work”, and installed by a Monumental Mason who has obtained a monumental permit approval. A Monumental Application Form is available from any of the Council Customer Service Centres.
How do I arrange a plaque for a burial?
A plaque order form for a single or double depth burial plot is available from any of the Council Customer Service Centres. The plaque order can only be authorised by the Grantee or Next of Kin. It is recommended the Next of Kin consult with Council Customer Service Officers, who can assist in the design, costing and general arrangement of the plaques to meet the family needs. This also ensures all works meet Council’s guidelines as they can vary from cemetery to cemetery.
Where can I go to obtain more information on cemeteries?
For more information please contact us.