Our cemeteries are home to many monuments, headstones and plaques, some over 160 years old. As these meaningful structures age, they may occasionally require attention to keep them safe for all who visit.
Watch our monument safety video to see how our team approaches monument safety with care and respect, and learn about the important role Right of Interment holders play in maintaining memorials.
Understanding headstone aging
Several natural factors can affect the integrity and appearance of graves, headstones, monuments and plaques over time:
Weather exposure - years of sun, rain, wind, and temperature changes gradually affect stone and other materials.
Ground conditions - natural soil movement and settling over time can often result in graves sinking or shifting in position, impacting their stability.
Age - older construction methods and materials may require more frequent attention compared to those made more recently.
The natural aging of these memorials doesn’t always reflect neglect – it’s more often the reality of change over time. As a cemetery trust, GMCT has a responsibility to preserve the history and meaning they hold while ensuring they remain safe for future generations.
How do we keep headstones safe?
We have a duty of care to provide safe environments for all visitors, staff and contractors. Our teams conduct inspections of monuments and headstones across our cemeteries, particularly in older sections.
When we identify a potentially unsafe structure, we:
Section off and secure the area identified as unsafe
Contact the Right of Interment holder to arrange necessary adjustments or repairs
Make the memorial safe if we cannot locate the Right of Interment holder, or if they’re unable to arrange repairs. We often do this by gently laying the headstone or monument down on the grave, with the inscription face up.
Your responsibilities as a Right of Interment holder
Under government regulations, Right of Interment holders are responsible for maintaining their own memorial spaces, including any headstones, plaques or monuments. As a cemetery trust, GMCT does not have the right to alter or repair monuments – this responsibility lies solely with the Right of Interment holder.
Contact a registered stonemason for repairs.
Reporting unsafe headstones
If you have concerns about a particular headstone or monument, please contact our team on 1300 022 298 to report the location.
If you have information about the Right of Interment holder of a headstone or monument that has been identified as unsafe, please let us know using the same number.