Cemetery Services

We provide plot reservations and bronze plaques for use in our cemeteries.

We can also assist family members and historians to locate burials where a full name is known.

Cemetery services

We manage 7 cemeteries situated in some of the Coffs Coast’s most beautiful locations, providing peaceful and respectful surrounds.

When delivering services to our community we ensure:

Opening Hours

Cemeteries in the Coffs Harbour LGA are open all year round, with access available at any time. Please note the Coffs Harbour Lawn Cemetery main gate is open from dawn to dusk.

Cemeteries and Crematoria - licensing and compliance

The NSW Government has introduced the Interment Industry Scheme as part of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulation 2022 – a licensing system for cemetery and crematorium operators.

The scheme will, for the first time, license all operators and set clear standards. Families will know what to expect from cemetery and crematorium operators and can make informed choices.

Key licence conditions relate to:

  • consumer contracts – standard terms and conditions explained clearly so customers can understand what they are paying for
  • cemetery maintenance – to make sure there are clear minimum standards for every cemetery
  • pricing transparency – so customers know what they are purchasing and can easily compare prices
  • customer service – to ensure operators are consistently providing quality service
  • religious, cultural and spiritual principles– to ensure respect for religious and cultural requirements and promote understanding of the unique importance of Sorry Business to Aboriginal people.

Further information can be found here

Funeral arrangements - Request for Perpetual Interment Right Contract

To ensure all arrangements are efficiently managed, please remember that all funerals must be coordinated through a Funeral Director. The Funeral Director will reach out to us directly to make the necessary arrangements. As an agent, they can facilitate and assist in organising the services according to your needs.

To arrange an interment please follow the link.

Request for Perpetual Interment Right Contract (Pre-Need, At-Need)

To ensure compliance with the recent changes implemented by Cemeteries and Crematoria Australia, please refer to the annexure extracts from the model contract below. These extracts provide a detailed pricing breakdown to ensure transparency, along with an overview of the related services available at each cemetery.

Perpetual Interment Right Contract (Template)(PDF, 323KB)

Annexure B: Pricing Breakdown(PDF, 119KB)

Annexure C: Related Services(PDF, 154KB)

Types of Interments

We offer burial options in two lawn cemeteries and monumental cemeteries.

  • Full Monumental Graves: These allow for the entire grave to be covered with a monument made from materials like marble, granite, sandstone, or concrete. The design, style, and size of the monument must comply with the rules and regulations set by Coffs Harbour City Council.

All works must be undertaken in accordance with the Australian Standards Headstones & Cemeteries Monuments AS4204-2019 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, as a minimum. Works are not to commence prior to written City of Coffs Harbour Approval.

  • Lawn Graves: These feature a plaque placed at the head of the grave on a concrete plinth, providing a simpler, elegant option for honouring loved ones.
  • Ash Interments
  • Memorial Garden: Located within the Coffs Harbour Lawn Cemetery, the Memorial Garden provides a serene space for the interment of ashes along the garden beds. Each interment includes a small bronze plaque, offering a meaningful way to honour and remember loved ones.
  • Memorial Walls: Located within the Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga Lawn Cemeteries, the memorial walls offer a dedicated space for ash interments. Each interment includes a bronze plaque, providing a respectful and lasting tribute for loved ones.

Please note: Ash boxes are required to meet the following measurements: Length: 19cm, Height: 8cm, Width: 11cm

Memorial headstones

The Coffs Harbour Historical, Woolgoolga Monumental, Coramba Cemetery, Bucca Cemetery, and Corindi Cemetery all offer monumental headstones.

For graves located in these monumental or historical cemeteries, headstones can be arranged through an authorised monumental stonemason. The stonemason you choose will provide guidance on the expected timeframe and will handle the application process for a permit through the Council to construct the headstone.

To undertake monumental works please complete this form:

Application to Undertake Monumental Works Form

Bronze plaques 

Lawn Sections at Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga Lawn Cemeteries feature bronze memorial plaques, mounted on a concrete base and positioned at the head of each grave. For the first interment, a single bronze plaque is included. If a grave is reopened for a second interment, a detachable plaque will be provided.

Plaques are available in various designs, offering choices of motifs, emblems, borders, and badges. Optional additions, such as ceramic photo tiles, extra motifs, and additional inscription lines, are also available. For more information, please see below

Plaque Information Sheet(PDF, 791KB)

Please note the typical delivery time for bronze plaques is approximately 8 weeks for completion and placement on the grave.

Once the plaque has been placed, the City of Coffs Harbour will contact the interment right holder.

Reservations (Pre-Need)

Grave sites and spaces in cremation gardens or niche walls can be reserved by completing a "Pre-Need" application form through the link provided below. This reservation requires a non-refundable payment t secure the selected site.

City of coffs Harbour - Request for Perpetual Internment Right Contract (Pre-Need)

If you have purchased a reservation and later change your mind, you can request a transfer using the online form below. Please note that completing this form will release your reservation.

Application Transfer of Reservation (Right of Burial)

Burials on private land

Burials are permitted on private land within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area. For further details, please refer to the fact sheet linked below.

Burials on Private Land Factsheet(PDF, 543KB)

Access to records and family history

Burial and cremation authorities are required to keep records of all services conducted, and both burial and cremation registers are considered public records.

We may be able to provide information on deceased relatives or friends buried in our cemeteries. To perform a historical search, we will need both the given name and family name of the deceased. If you require historical information on multiple family members or friends, please email or write to us, including the full details for each individual.

Please note that a prescribed fee may apply for retrieving this information. For further details, refer to our fees and charges.

You can also search for grave locations using our online mapping tool. To do so, select the "Cemetery Name Search" tab beneath the main mapping screen and enter the name you are searching for.

Screenshot of online mapping tool showing cemetery search selected

Image: Screenshot of online mapping tool showing 'Cemetery Name Search' tab selected and cursor in name search box.

Family history resources

The following websites may also assist in locating records within the Coffs Harbour local government area: