Find a Grave and Search Burial Records
Search our burial records free online, by name, back to 1859
Search more than 80,000 burial records
Boroondara Cemetery has cared for families in Kew since 1859, and our records cover more than 80,000 burials across that time. You can search them online, free of charge, from anywhere.
Each record can include the person's full name, their date of death and date of burial, their age, and the location of their grave or memorial within the cemetery.
Families use our records to find where a loved one rests before a visit, to confirm details for a family history, or to locate a grave they haven't visited in many years.
How to search for a grave by name
Our burial records are held in PlotBox, a secure online records system. Selecting any Search Burial Records button on this page opens the search in a new tab.
Step by step
- Select Search Burial Records.
- Enter the person's surname, and their first name if you know it.
- If there are many results, narrow them down using the year of death.
- Select the person's name to open their record.
- Note the section and grave location shown on the record, then use our grounds map to plan your visit, or select Get Directions on the record to be guided to the grave.
If you can't find who you're looking for
- Try other spellings. Older records were written by hand, and names were often spelt as they sounded (for example, Thomson and Thompson, or McDonald and MacDonald).
- Search a maiden name as well as a married name.
- Search by surname only, then look through the list for first names, middle names or nicknames.
- Allow for different dates. A date passed down in a family can be a year or two out.
- Check whether the person was cremated. Cremation memorials are also listed in our records.
If you still can't find who you're looking for, call our team on (03) 9853 7025. We're happy to search the records for you over the phone.
Finding the grave when you visit
Boroondara Cemetery is a large, historic landscape, so it helps to plan before you arrive. Once you have the grave location from the burial record, use our cemetery maps to find the right section, the main entrance and parking. On the day, you can also select Get Directions on the burial record to be guided to the grave.
The cemetery is at 430 High Street, Kew, and is open every day from 8am to 5pm. If you need help on the day, visit our office, open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Printed maps are available there, and our team can point you in the right direction.
Researching your family history
Our records go back to the cemetery's first burials in 1859, which makes them a valuable source for anyone tracing their family history in Melbourne. A burial record can confirm a date of death, show which family members share a grave, and lead you to a family headstone you can visit and photograph.
Many of Victoria's early pioneers, civic leaders and families rest here. Discover our notable figures and the history of the cemetery, or follow one of our self-guided tours to see the heritage monuments in person.
For research that goes beyond the online records, contact our team. We're happy to help with historical questions where our records allow, free of charge.
How do I find where someone is buried in Victoria?
If you're not sure which cemetery someone is buried in, these steps can help.
- Search our records first. If the person lived in Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell or a nearby suburb, there's a good chance they rest at Boroondara.
- Check the death certificate. A Victorian death certificate usually records the place of burial or cremation. You can order a copy from Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
- Ask the funeral director. If the funeral was recent, the funeral director who arranged it can tell you where the burial or cremation took place.
- Search other cemeteries' records. Each Victorian cemetery keeps its own records, and many offer a free online search like ours.
- Search historical archives. For older burials, Public Record Office Victoria holds many historical records, including some cemetery records.
FAQs
Yes. Searching our burial records online is free, and you don't need to create an account.
Select Search Burial Records, enter the person's surname and first name, then open their record to see where they rest in the cemetery. If they don't appear, try other spellings or a maiden name.
Our records begin with the cemetery's first burials in 1859 and cover more than 80,000 burials up to today.
Yes. Call us on (03) 9853 7025 between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, and we can search the records and help you locate a grave over the phone.
Note the grave location from the burial record, then use our cemetery maps to find the section, or select Get Directions on the record to be guided to the grave. Printed maps are available from our office, and our team is happy to help.
Start with their death certificate, which usually records the place of burial or cremation. You can also search the online records of individual cemeteries, including ours, or ask the funeral director who arranged the service.
Still have a question?
Our team is here to provide clear, gentle guidance at your own pace.
Find a Loved One
Whether tracing family history or visiting a loved one, our burial records can guide your way.
