Rookwood Cemetery & Crematorium is one of Sydney’s best-known cemeteries, but if you’ve never had to arrange or attend a funeral there before, it can be surprisingly difficult to understand.
For a start, Rookwood is enormous. It is home to different cemetery areas, cremation facilities, chapels and burial grounds serving many different faiths and cultures. Rookwood General Cemetery and Rookwood Catholic Cemetery are also separately operated.
So when someone says a funeral is “at Rookwood”, that could mean a chapel service followed by cremation, a Catholic funeral, a burial following a church service elsewhere, or simply gathering at the graveside.
This guide explains the different parts of Rookwood Cemetery, the chapels and crematoriums, what happens at a burial or cremation, and some practical things to know when arranging or attending a funeral there.
If you are currently arranging a funeral, our Rookwood funeral services page explains how we can help with the arrangements.
Rookwood General, Catholic and Crematorium: What’s the Difference?
Rookwood has been part of Sydney since the 19th century and today is one of the largest and most culturally diverse cemetery sites in Australia.
The first thing to understand is that it isn’t simply one cemetery with one chapel.
Two of the main areas families are likely to encounter are:
Rookwood General Cemetery and Crematorium, operated by Metropolitan Memorial Parks, and
Rookwood Catholic Cemetery, operated by Catholic Cemeteries & Crematoria.
Within the broader Rookwood grounds are burial areas representing many different religions, cultures and communities, alongside historic sections, contemporary lawn cemeteries, monumental graves, crypts, cremation memorials and several chapels.
Rookwood General Cemetery alone covers more than 190 hectares and contains more than 400 individual burial grounds.
This is one reason we always recommend knowing the exact chapel or burial location before travelling to a funeral at Rookwood, rather than simply entering “Rookwood Cemetery” into your navigation.
You can find maps, current visiting information and further details on the official Metropolitan Memorial Parks Rookwood General Cemetery and Crematorium website.
Rookwood General Cemetery and Crematorium
Rookwood General Cemetery serves people from a very wide range of religious, cultural and non-religious backgrounds.
Burial options include lawn graves, granite lawn memorials and traditional monumental graves, with different sections of the cemetery reflecting the communities that have made Sydney home over many generations.
The cemetery also contains Rookwood Crematorium, which opened in 1925 and was the first crematorium in New South Wales.
A funeral here can take many forms. You might hold the whole service in one of the chapels, have a service elsewhere followed by burial at Rookwood, gather only at the graveside, or hold a chapel funeral followed by cremation.
Chapels at Rookwood General Cemetery
There are several chapel and ceremonial spaces within Rookwood General Cemetery.
All Souls Chapel is perhaps the best known. Built in 1954, it has a distinctive Art Deco design but modern facilities including audio visual equipment, livestreaming and recording. It can accommodate multi-faith services and non-religious funerals.
The Chapel of Eternal Rest is a more contemporary space, with seating for up to 100 people and both indoor and outdoor areas for gathering and reflection.
Beit Tephilla, meaning “House of Prayer”, is situated within the Jewish section of Rookwood and provides an intimate alternative to a graveside service for Jewish funerals.
You can see photographs and current facilities for each on the official Metropolitan Memorial Parks Rookwood chapel guide.
Rookwood Crematorium
Rookwood Crematorium sits within the broader Rookwood General Cemetery site and has its own group of chapels.
These include:
All Souls Chapel – the historic Art Deco chapel described above.
South Chapel – the largest of the traditional crematorium chapels, seating approximately 120 people including its mezzanine level.
East Chapel – an intimate chapel seating approximately 70 people, with a view towards the gardens beyond the catafalque.
West Chapel – a smaller chapel suited to more intimate services, with additional standing room available.
The chapels have audio visual facilities, and livestreaming and recording are available in several of the spaces.
Current chapel information and virtual tours can be found through the Rookwood Crematorium chapel guide.
What happens at a cremation service at Rookwood?
A cremation funeral usually begins much like any other funeral service.
Family and friends gather in the chapel, and the service may include music, readings, a eulogy or words of remembrance, photographs or a video tribute, religious prayers or rituals, and other personal elements chosen by the family.
Towards the end of the service there is usually a moment of committal: the point at which everyone formally says goodbye.
The coffin may remain visible until guests leave or may be obscured from view as part of the committal, depending on the chapel arrangements and what the family has chosen.
The cremation itself happens privately afterwards. Guests do not normally see the physical cremation take place.
Rookwood General also offers direct cremation without a formal attended service and, more recently, shrouded cremation. There is also a witness room for families who, for cultural, religious or personal reasons, wish to remain nearby during the cremation process.
More information about these options is available directly from Metropolitan Memorial Parks’ cremation services information.
What happens to the ashes afterwards?
After the cremation, the ashes are returned to the family or funeral director once they are ready.
There is no requirement to make an immediate decision about what to do with them.
Some families keep the ashes at home, scatter them somewhere meaningful, divide them between family members or incorporate a small amount into jewellery or another keepsake.
Others prefer a permanent place to visit. Rookwood has a range of gardens, niches and other cremation memorials, and ashes may also be interred in an existing family grave where this is permitted.
Burial at Rookwood Cemetery
A burial at Rookwood doesn’t mean the entire funeral needs to take place there.
One of the most common arrangements is for a funeral to be held at a church or another venue elsewhere in Sydney, followed by a procession to Rookwood for the burial.
Alternatively, a family might hold a service in one of Rookwood’s chapels before travelling through the grounds to the grave.
A funeral can also be held entirely at the graveside.
What happens at the graveside?
If there has already been a funeral service, the graveside portion is usually relatively short.
The coffin is carried to the grave and there may be prayers, a reading, music or some final words before the committal.
Depending on the family’s wishes and traditions, people may place flowers, petals, soil or other meaningful items onto the coffin.
In some funerals the coffin is lowered during the service. In others, the family prefers to leave before this happens.
There is no single way this moment has to look.
Family members and friends can also act as pallbearers and carry the coffin where it is appropriate and safe to do so. Your funeral director will talk you through this beforehand and coordinate it on the day.
Rookwood Catholic Cemetery
Rookwood Catholic Cemetery is a separate part of the Rookwood site, operated by Catholic Cemeteries & Crematoria.
It has served Sydney’s Catholic community since 1867 and contains traditional graves, lawn graves, crypts, mausoleum spaces and cremation memorials.
It is also home to Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium.
There are five Catholic chapels at Rookwood, each with a noticeably different character.
Mary, Mother of Mercy Chapel
Mary, Mother of Mercy is a modern, light-filled chapel with seating for around 160 people.
It has audio visual facilities, livestreaming and recording, wheelchair access, dedicated parking and an undercover arrival area. It also connects directly with a condolence lounge, making it convenient for families who want to hold a gathering immediately after the funeral.
Sacred Heart Chapel
For families looking for something more traditional, Sacred Heart Chapel dates from 1928 and was restored in 2011.
It retains many of its original Christian features, including stained glass, a wooden crucifix and Stations of the Cross, and seats approximately 100 people.
Waterway Pavilion
The Waterway Pavilion is a more contemporary spiritual space surrounded by lawns and water.
It seats approximately 100 people and can be used for services, prayers and Mass.
Mausoleum of the Resurrection Chapel
With seating for approximately 175 people, the Mausoleum of the Resurrection Chapel is particularly suitable for larger gatherings, although it can also work for smaller services.
It has modern audio visual and livestreaming facilities and is located close to the condolence lounges.
St Michael the Archangel Chapel
St Michael the Archangel is the smallest and one of the most historic of the Catholic chapels.
Built in 1890 in a Gothic Revival style, the sandstone chapel seats around 50 people and sits among Rookwood’s traditional monumental graves.
Current details and photographs of all five spaces can be found on the Catholic Cemeteries & Crematoria chapel guide.
Can you have a Catholic funeral at Rookwood?
Yes.
Depending on the type of Catholic funeral being arranged, the funeral rites may take place in a Catholic church followed by burial or cremation at Rookwood, or certain services may be held within one of Rookwood Catholic Cemetery’s chapels.
For many Catholic families, a Funeral Mass takes place in the person’s parish church, followed by the Rite of Committal at Rookwood.
There are also circumstances where a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass or other Catholic funeral rites may be appropriate.
If you’re planning a Catholic funeral, our Guide to Catholic Funerals in Sydney explains the different parts of the Catholic funeral rites, including the Vigil, Funeral Mass or Funeral Liturgy and committal.
What can a funeral at Rookwood look like?
One of the things families sometimes don’t realise when they begin making arrangements is how much flexibility there can be.
A Rookwood funeral doesn’t have to follow one particular format.
Chapel service followed by cremation
Family and friends gather in one of Rookwood’s chapels for the complete funeral service. At the end of the service the coffin is committed, and the cremation takes place privately afterwards.
Chapel service followed by burial
The funeral is held in one of the cemetery chapels. Afterwards, the coffin and guests travel to the burial site within Rookwood for the committal.
Church funeral followed by burial at Rookwood
For religious funerals, the main service may take place at a church elsewhere in Sydney.
After the service, the hearse travels to Rookwood, often followed by family and friends, where everyone gathers again at the grave for the final committal.
Graveside funeral
Sometimes simplicity feels right.
Rather than holding a separate chapel or church service, family and friends can gather at the grave for the funeral itself.
A graveside funeral can still include a eulogy, readings, music, prayers, flowers and other personal touches. It simply brings everything together in one place.
Wakes and gatherings after a funeral at Rookwood
Families often want somewhere to spend time together after the formal part of the funeral is over.
Rookwood Catholic Cemetery has two condolence lounges, and these can be used whether or not the burial or cremation itself has taken place within the Catholic cemetery. Catering is also available.
Rookwood General Cemetery has function and catering facilities within the grounds.
There is also no requirement to hold the wake at Rookwood. Families might instead choose a nearby club or restaurant, a favourite venue, or simply gather at someone’s home.
The right choice often comes down to the number of guests, how far people have travelled and whether the family wants something structured or simply somewhere comfortable to sit, eat, talk and remember.
Attending a funeral at Rookwood: practical things to know
The most important thing to know is that Rookwood is much bigger than many people expect.
If you’re attending a funeral, check the invitation or funeral notice for the exact chapel, cemetery section or meeting point.
Don’t rely on entering “Rookwood Cemetery” into your phone and working it out when you arrive. The cemetery has multiple entrances and an extensive internal road network, and different parts of the grounds can be some distance apart.
Allow some extra time, particularly if you’ve never been there before.
For a burial, the family or funeral director may also give guests instructions about whether to meet at the chapel, follow the hearse from another venue or go directly to the graveside.
Parking availability varies between chapels and cemetery areas, although many of the main chapels have designated parking nearby.
And if you’re unsure where you’re meant to go, ask the funeral director before the day. It’s a very normal question.
Frequently asked questions about Rookwood Cemetery and Crematorium
Is Rookwood Cemetery the same as Rookwood Crematorium?
Rookwood Crematorium is located within the broader Rookwood cemetery site and is operated as part of Rookwood General Cemetery and Crematorium by Metropolitan Memorial Parks. However, Rookwood also contains separately operated cemetery areas, including Rookwood Catholic Cemetery.
What is the difference between Rookwood General Cemetery and Rookwood Catholic Cemetery?
Rookwood General Cemetery and Rookwood Catholic Cemetery are separate cemetery areas with different operators.
Rookwood General Cemetery and Crematorium is operated by Metropolitan Memorial Parks and serves many different faiths, cultures and non-religious families.
Rookwood Catholic Cemetery is operated by Catholic Cemeteries & Crematoria and has a particular Catholic identity, its own chapels, burial areas and Catholic crematorium.
Can anyone be buried at Rookwood General Cemetery?
Rookwood General Cemetery serves people from many religious, cultural and non-religious backgrounds. The appropriate burial area will depend on availability, the type of grave required and any religious or cultural requirements.
Can you have a non-religious funeral at Rookwood?
Yes. Funeral services at Rookwood can be religious, non-religious or somewhere in between.
A non-religious service might be led by a celebrant or family member and can include music, stories, readings, photographs and other elements that reflect the person who has died.
Can you have a Catholic funeral at Rookwood?
Yes. Rookwood Catholic Cemetery has five chapels and its own Catholic crematorium. A Catholic funeral may also take place in a parish church elsewhere before the burial or cremation at Rookwood.
Can you have a Funeral Mass at Rookwood?
Some of Rookwood Catholic Cemetery’s spaces can accommodate Mass. Whether a Funeral Mass or another form of Catholic funeral liturgy is appropriate will depend on the circumstances and should be discussed with the priest and funeral director.
Can you have a funeral somewhere else and still be buried at Rookwood?
Yes. This is very common.
The funeral might take place at a church, chapel or another venue before the hearse and mourners travel to Rookwood for the burial.
Can the entire funeral be held at the graveside?
Yes. A graveside-only funeral can be a simple and very meaningful option.
Can family members carry the coffin?
Yes, in many circumstances. Family members or friends can act as pallbearers if they would like to. The funeral director will discuss what is practical and safe and explain exactly what to do on the day.
What happens to the coffin at the end of a cremation service?
At the end of the service there is usually a committal. Depending on the chapel and the family’s wishes, the coffin may be obscured from view or remain in place while guests leave.
The cremation takes place privately afterwards.
Can family witness a cremation at Rookwood?
Rookwood General Cemetery and Crematorium has a witness room for families who wish to be nearby during the cremation process. This may be particularly important for some religious and cultural traditions and should be discussed when making the arrangements.
How long is a funeral service at Rookwood?
There isn’t one standard length for every funeral. Chapel bookings operate within allocated time periods, so the length will depend on the chapel and booking made.
If a family would like more time for speakers, music, cultural rituals or a longer ceremony, this is something to discuss with the funeral director before the booking is made.
Can a funeral at Rookwood be livestreamed?
Many of the chapels at Rookwood General Cemetery, Rookwood Crematorium and Rookwood Catholic Cemetery offer livestreaming or recording facilities. Availability varies between venues, so it’s worth confirming this when choosing the chapel.
Can you hold a wake at Rookwood?
Yes. Both Rookwood General and Rookwood Catholic Cemetery have options for gatherings and catering after a funeral. Families can also choose to hold the wake somewhere else.
How early should I arrive for a funeral at Rookwood?
It’s sensible to allow more time than you normally would, particularly if you haven’t visited Rookwood before.
Aim to arrive around 15 minutes before the service, with additional travel time to navigate the grounds and find the correct chapel or burial area.
Does the funeral director book Rookwood for you?
Yes. When you’re arranging a funeral, you don’t generally need to manage the cemetery, chapel, crematorium and burial arrangements yourself.
Your funeral director can liaise with Rookwood, make the necessary bookings and coordinate the timing of the service, hearse, burial or cremation and other parts of the funeral.
Arranging a funeral at Rookwood Cemetery
Rookwood offers families an extraordinary amount of choice, but that can feel like a lot to navigate when someone has just died.
You don’t need to know which chapel you want, understand the different cemetery areas or have decided between every option before speaking to a funeral director.
We can talk you through what is available, make the necessary arrangements with Rookwood and help you create a funeral that reflects the person you’re saying goodbye to.
If someone has recently died and you’re not sure what needs to happen first, our guide takes you through the immediate steps.