A striking and somewhat macabre trend is emerging across Australia: burial plots are being listed online as valuable assets, with some fetching more than $150,000.
A nationwide shortage of cemetery space, especially in major cities, has turned graves into high-demand commodities on platforms like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.
At Sydney’s historic Waverley Cemetery, a seaside plot is being offered for $165,000. In Melbourne, a “supreme position” at the Melbourne General Cemetery is listed for $95,000, while in Queensland, a spot at Allambe Gardens is on sale for $25,000. Many of these listings mimic premium real estate ads, complete with photos, scenic descriptions, and emphasis on location.
Scott Harris, owner of NSW-based funeral company Funera, said burial prices have risen by an “astonishing” 30% over the past decade. “Prices will continue to climb,” he warned, adding that “half the cemeteries in Sydney are privately owned, and there’s very little regulation.” The average burial plot now costs around $10,000, not including internment fees, which Harris described as “a sound investment.”
Mark Gilden, selling the Waverley plot on behalf of close family friends, explained that the family already has burial sites closer to home. “It’s very unusual for me to do this,” he said. “We’ve had some inquiries but no firm offers yet.” He also reflected on the situation: “It’s remarkable to see how much value people now attach to where they’ll be remembered.”
A spokesperson for NSW’s Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure clarified that individuals do not own the land itself but purchase an “interment right” – a legal right to bury remains in a specific location. These rights can be perpetual or renewable and may be transferred or inherited. Under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013, people are limited to holding two such rights to prevent speculative trading. Private transfers must be lodged and approved by the cemetery.
This gravesite sales boom comes as public cemeteries in NSW are projected to run out of faith-based burial plots by next year. The situation has alarmed religious groups and families alike, raising questions about long-term planning for public cemeteries and the ethics of profiting from final resting places.
