Toowong Cemetery
The historic Toowong Cemetery is Brisbane’s largest cemetery. It features cultural areas, walking trails and memorials.
About Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery was once the city's main burial ground and it includes many of Brisbane’s prominent European settlers.
While it officially opened in 1875, some burials took place from 1871. The most notable burial was Queensland's second governor, Colonel Samuel Blackall.
Located on the slopes of Mt Coot-tha, the cemetery borders Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha and Brisbane Forest Park.
Toowong is an historic cemetery, listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
No new graves are available at this location. Some ash memorials are still available and burials in existing family graves may also be possible.
Location
Toowong Cemetery
Corner Frederick Street and Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong Qld 4066 07 3403 8888 CB-CEM-TOOWONG@brisbane.qld.gov.auOffice hours: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm
Visiting hours: 6am-6pm daily
Gates are unlocked and locked each day.
Burial options
To view available burial options at Toowong Cemetery, request an appointment by emailing Council.
Memorials for ashes
Toowong Cemetery offers sites in memorial walls to house your loved one's ashes.
Alternatively, ashes can be buried at family grave sites.
Family grave re-use
Burials in existing family graves may be available where a grave still has space, or the last burial was more than 30 years ago.
The re-use of family graves is only available to direct descendants or those related to the burial rights holder.
Learn more about re-using family graves.
Locating graves and memorials
The practice of marking numbers on headstones was introduced in the late 1900s.
As most of the graves at Toowong Cemetery are quite old, the majority of headstones do not have numbers marked on them. This makes finding graves at Toowong Cemetery difficult.
The cemetery map shows the portions and sections within the cemetery. Inside each section, there could be up to 40 graves. To request a portion map, email Council.
You can carry out a location search to help you find a grave or memorial. Have the person’s first or surname, age and date of birth and/or death on hand.
Visit the cemetery during office hours to get assistance.
Friends of Toowong Cemetery
Friends of Toowong Cemetery is a group of volunteers who preserve, protect and enhance the cemetery.
The group holds meetings on the last Wednesday evening of every month. They also run guided walks on the first Sunday of the month.
Learn more about Friends of Toowong Cemetery.
Self-guided walks
These 2 self-guided walks were developed with the support of the Friends of Toowong Cemetery.
Immerse yourself in Brisbane’s history and admire the stunning views on these walks through the cemetery.
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
Toowong Cemetery includes the graves of some of Brisbane’s most notable European settlers, including early governors and mayors.
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Colonel Samuel Blackall, Queensland's second governor.
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Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, premier and Australia’s first chief justice.
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John Petrie, Brisbane’s first mayor.
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Emma Miller, campaigner for women's suffrage in Queensland.
Read more about the people buried at Toowong Cemetery.