Choosing cremation

Cremation in Melbourne

Q: How much does a cremation cost in Melbourne?

At Candour, an unattended cremation is from $4,845. A cremation with a farewell is from $8,977 (Simple), $11,662 (Celebrated) or $16,877 (Concierge). All prices are inc GST, with the cremation fee included. Your coffin and flowers are chosen at arrangement and added.

A farewell followed by the cremation, or a private cremation without a service. One team and one clear price, with the cremation fee included.

If someone has died, call us now and we’ll come to you.

Call 1300 788 881 — any hour Compare the two ways ↓

5.0 · 32 Google reviews

A quiet bench beside the rose gardens at Springvale Botanical Cemetery

Your two paths

One word, two very different days.

White chairs gathered for a courtyard farewell, a white coffin dressed with coral flowers

Most families choose this

Cremation with a farewell

A service in a memorial-park chapel, a venue or your church. The cremation follows privately afterwards.

Choose this if people will want to gather.

From $9,429 inc GST

See the three experiences ↓

A deep green handmade urn held gently in two hands

Private & simple

Cremation without a service

No ceremony and no one attends. We look after everything privately, and their ashes come home to you in a handmade urn.

Choose this if they asked for no fuss, or family will gather later.

From $5,383 inc GST

See what’s included ↓

Not sure which is right? Call 1300 788 881 any hour and we’ll talk it through with you.

With a farewell

How a cremation farewell takes shape.

Each price is the complete package with the cremation fee included. Your coffin and flowers are chosen with you at arrangement and added.

Simple

From $9,429 inc GST

The farewell: A chapel at one of five memorial parks
The cremation: In the same grounds, with no second journey
Who looks after it: One arranger, the whole way

Explore Simple →

Celebrated

From $12,029 inc GST

The farewell: Your chosen venue, such as a sailing club, garden or estate
The cremation: At the most suitable park nearby, arranged for you
Who looks after it: One arranger, with your venue coordinated end to end

Explore Celebrated →

Concierge

From $20,309 inc GST

The farewell: Anywhere, including Melbourne’s most prestigious venues
The cremation: Privately, at whichever of the five parks suits the day
Who looks after it: One senior hand, from the first conversation to the last guest

Explore Concierge →

Compare the three side by side →Holding a memorial after the cremation →

Without a service

A private cremation, complete.

No ceremony and no one attends, with the same care and the same handmade urn.

What $5,383 includes

Transfer into our care, day or night, anywhere in Melbourne
Mortuary care until the cremation
An individual cremation at one of the five parks below, fee included
Doctors’ cremation paperwork and the official death certificate
Their ashes in a handmade urn, delivered to your door or collected

Also to choose

Coffin — from $629 for a cardboard coffin; timber options are available

A gathering later — optional. We can hold a memorial whenever your family is ready.

Call 1300 788 881 — any hour

Coffin options, park fees and how to arrange it: Unattended cremation →

Where it happens

Five memorial parks across Melbourne.

Every Candour cremation takes place at one of these parks, confirmed with you at arrangement. Enter your postcode to sort them by distance and see the nearest chapels and venues.

Bunurong Memorial Park

Dandenong South · south-east

Explore Bunurong Memorial Park →

Springvale Botanical Cemetery

Springvale · south-east

Explore Springvale Botanical Cemetery →

Fawkner Memorial Park

Fawkner · north

Explore Fawkner Memorial Park →

Altona Memorial Park

Altona North · west

Explore Altona Memorial Park →

Lilydale Memorial Park

Lilydale · east

Explore Lilydale Memorial Park →

See every venue and chapel we serve →

Step by step

What happens, and when.

If someone has died today: call 1300 788 881 and we’ll come to you, any hour. Everything else can wait.

Into our care

We bring them into our care, any hour, anywhere in Melbourne, and look after them until the cremation.
The farewell

The service is held as you’ve planned it. At the end, the curtain can close, or everyone can say goodbye and leave in their own time.
The cremation

Usually the same day as the farewell or the next, at the park you’ve chosen.Usually within two to three days, once the doctor’s certificate is complete (or the coroner has finished, if they’re involved). Each cremation is carried out individually, and their name is checked at every step.
The ashes come home

Usually within a few days, in a handmade urn, hand-delivered to your door or collected in person.

Upfront, always

What a cremation costs.

Without a service, from $5,383. With a farewell, from $9,429. All inc GST, with every fee and all of our care included; your coffin, flowers and celebrant are chosen with you and added.

Included in every Candour cremation

The cremation fee
Doctors’ cremation paperwork
The official death certificate
A handmade urn
An online tribute page
Transfer into our care, day or night

Chosen with you and added

Coffin — from $629 for an unattended cremation; with a farewell, most families choose from $1,171 · view the range

Flowers — from $550 · browse our designs

Celebrant or clergy — from $880

5.0 · 32 Google reviews

“Very transparent, respectful and honest — the service was exactly how he would have wanted it.”

Jennie S. · Google review

See the complete pricing picture → Pricing & regulatory information →

Afterwards

Where they rest is yours to choose.

There’s no deadline. Many families take months to decide.

Home, with you

In the handmade urn, for as long as feels right.

At a memorial park

Gardens, niches and graves for ashes, at every park we work with.

Explore the parks →

Scattered somewhere loved

We’ll tell you where it’s allowed and how to do it well.

Read our scattering guide →

Kept close

Keepsake urns to share among family, or jewellery that holds a little of their ashes.

Explore keepsakes →

Common questions

Cremation, answered plainly.

How much does a cremation cost in Melbourne?

At Candour, an unattended cremation is from $5,383. A cremation with a farewell is from $9,429 (Simple), $12,029 (Celebrated) or $20,309 (Concierge). All prices are inc GST, with the cremation fee included. Your coffin and flowers are chosen at arrangement and added.

Why do cremation prices in Melbourne vary so much?

The lowest advertised prices are usually unattended cremations, and some grow later with paperwork fees, after-hours transfers or the cremation fee itself. Every Candour price includes every fee and all of our care; only your own choices, such as the coffin and flowers, are added. If you have an estimate from anyone, bring it to us and we’ll help you read it line by line.

How soon does the cremation take place?

With a farewell, usually the same day or the next. A same-day cremation can be guaranteed, either for an additional fee set by the cemetery or at Fawkner, Altona and Lilydale when they arrive before a set time. Without a service, usually within two to three days of the doctor’s certificate being completed, or the coroner finishing, if they’re involved.

Do we need to buy a coffin for a cremation?

Yes. A coffin is required for every cremation in Victoria, and it is cremated with them. For an unattended cremation ours start at $629; with a farewell, most families choose from $1,171.

Can we be there for the cremation itself?

Yes. At every park we work with, a small number of family can be present as the coffin enters the cremator, arranged ahead of time.

Can we spend time with them before the cremation?

Yes. With a farewell, a private viewing is part of our care and never charged for. With an unattended cremation it’s possible too, for an additional fee.

What happens to jewellery and keepsakes?

We’ll go through it with you before the cremation: what stays with them, and what your family keeps. Nothing is decided without you.

Is embalming required for a cremation?

No. Embalming isn’t required for a cremation in Victoria.

Can we have a Catholic or religious cremation?

Yes. The Catholic Church permits cremation, usually with the funeral Mass first and the ashes later interred rather than scattered. We work with your parish, temple or community, whatever your faith.

What’s the difference between cremation and direct cremation?

Direct, or unattended, cremation means no service is held. We look after everything privately and the ashes come home to you. Explore unattended cremation.

Is cremation the more sustainable choice?

Both cremation and burial have a footprint: cremation’s is mostly energy, burial’s mostly land and materials. Whichever you choose, we measure the whole farewell’s emissions and offset them at 150%, and a tree is planted in their name.

Planning ahead

Thinking ahead, not in the moment?

Record your wishes so your family never has to guess, or prepay at today’s price.

Begin at planning ahead →

Also exploring: Burial · Sea burial · Unattended cremation

When you’re ready

We’re here, whenever you need us.

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call 1300 788 881 Ask a question

Call Candour any time — 1300 788 881