Rookwood General Cemetery
Overview
Rookwood General Cemetery is one of the oldest working cemeteries in Australia, having operated continuously since 1867. It is located in Sydney and covers an area of over 190 hectares, making Rookwood the largest cemetery in the Southern Hemisphere.
Rookwood Cemetery is also an important cultural landmark in Sydney, featuring a range of historical and cultural landmarks. These include the War Graves section, which contains the graves of Australian service personnel who fought in various conflicts around the world, and the Chinese Memorial Gardens, which are dedicated to the Chinese immigrants who came to Australia during the gold rush era.
The cemetery has also been the site of many notable burials, including those of politicians, artists, and sportspeople. Some of the notables buried at Rookwood include Louisa Lawson, Anthony Horden, William Arnott, and Roy Rene.
Today, Rookwood Cemetery continues to serve as a final resting place for people from all walks of life. Additionally, it also provides a unique opportunity for artists to engage with its contemporary relevance, hosting exhibitions in one of its oldest sections that invite the public to explore the diverse cultural heritage of Australia's largest and most historic cemetery.
Accessibility
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
Have a hearing loop
Have a step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
Have an accessible public toilet which is unlocked
Have step free access to the conference or function room
Have step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
Offer a range of contact methods for receiving complaints
Offer multiple options for booking - web, email, phone
Use Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
