Our cemeteries
A cemetery is a place of reflection, remembrance and to celebrate your loved one's life. Whether you would like to follow tradition or create your own personal touch that suits your loved one, we are here to help.
Memorial options
There are a number of memorial options available at our cemeteries:
Columbarium Walls (not available in all cemeteries): These walls are for the placement of cremated ashes into a wall; ashes are placed into a suitable receptacle and a memorial plaque is placed securely over the niche. Depending on the niche size in some of our walls, it may be the case that not all the ashes can be placed. In such cases the family has the option to have the residue ashes returned to them, or scattered.
Memorial Ash Gardens (not available in all cemeteries): Ash gardens have been established within Gordon Williams Memorial Aberdare and Kurri Kurri Cemeteries. Ashes are interred into an allotted plot with a memorial plaque placed at ground level.
Lawn Burial Section (Not available in all cemeteries): Lawn burials create a modern and peaceful setting within the cemetery for burials. Some specific plots are available for ash interments, a plaque is placed with inscription of the family’s choice.
Denominational/Monumental: Denominational sections are available within Cessnock regions cemeteries for burial or interment of ashes into a plot. Most of the cemeteries will allow for double depth burials (two burials into the one plot).
About our cemeteries
Branxton Cemetery
Address: New England Highway, Branxton NSW 2335
Branxton Cemetery was established in the late 1840s and exhibits inscriptions dating from the early 1950s to present day. It's located at the western end of Dalwood Road adjacent to New England Highway.
Branxton Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 4MB)
Memorial types:
- Denominational/Monumental
Cessnock Cemetery
Address: Corner of Wine Country Drive and Kerlew Street, Cessnock NSW 2325
Cessnock Cemetery is divided into denominational sections and contains monuments dating from the 1800s. Please note the cemetery is closed to reservations with the following exceptions:
- existing reservations
- reopening of existing burials
- ash interments into existing plots
Cessnock Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 5MB)
Memorial Types:
Ellalong Cemetery
Address: Helena St, Ellalong NSW 2325
Ellalong Cemetery lies in the central eastern area of the Ellalong Township.
Ellalong Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 5MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
Glenmore Cemetery
Address: Wine Country Drive, Rothbury NSW 2320
Glenmore Cemetery was established by members of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in this area c1867. The cemetery is closed to new interments.
Glenmore Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 4MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
Gordon Williams Memorial Cemetery
Address: Greta Street Aberdare NSW 2325
The Gordon Williams Memorial Lawn Cemetery offers a diverse range of interment options. There is a modern lawn section at the front of the cemetery which includes columbarium walls and gardens. The monumental section contains burials dating from 1901. Many of the inscriptions record accidental deaths of mine employees at coal mines in the district.
Gordon Williams Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 7MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
- Lawn Section
- Ash Gardens
- Columbarium Walls
Greta Cemetery
Address: Evans Street, Greta NSW 2334
Greta Cemetery was established in the 1870s with inscriptions dating from 1879. The cemetery also has a dedicated area relating to war graves which is maintained by the Office of Australian War Graves.
Greta Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 5MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
- Columbarium Wall
Kurri Kurri Cemetery
Address: Hospital Road, Weston NSW 2326
Kurri Kurri Cemetery offers a variety of interment and memorialisation options surrounded by a pleasant bushland setting.
Kurri Kurri Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 8MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
- Lawn Section
- Ash Gardens
- Columbarium Walls
Millfield Cemetery
Address: Millfield NSW 2325
Millfield Cemetery is located behind Sawmill and has peaceful outlook of the Brokenback Ranges.
Millfield Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 5MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
- Columbarium Wall
Rothbury Cemetery
Address: Wilderness Road, Rothbury NSW 2320
Rothbury Cemetery was established as an Anglican Cemetery and has inscriptions from as early as 1851 but those remaining from the first several decades are now small in numbers.
Rothbury Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 4MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
Wollombi Cemetery
Address: Maitland Road Wollombi NSW 2325
This historically significant cemetery contains memorials from the mid-1840s to the present day. It contains graves of early settlers, assigned servants, soldiers who fought against Napoleon, Irish political prisoners, distinguished churchman, medical men and at least one poet.
Wollombi Cemetery Masterplan(PDF, 5MB)
Memorial Types:
- Denominational/Monumental
Burial records
Cessnock City Council’s burial records were those received when taking over the management of the cemeteries in the 1960s. Control of public cemeteries was altered by the Local Government Amendment Act No. 52 (Control of Cemeteries) 1966 which appointed councils throughout New South Wales as Trustees of public cemeteries in their area.
Up to this time, local parishes/church trustees conducted burials. Council requested all records from churches, funeral directors, and gravediggers, however not all were received. Please note that all Council’s cemeteries have “unknown” and “unmarked’ graves. Burial records prior to the 1960s are incomplete making it difficult in some cases to be sure where a person has been interred.
For further information, please refer to Council's Burial Register.