Cremation is now chosen by around 70% of Australian families, up from less than 50% two decades ago. But burial remains an important and meaningful choice for many people — particularly those with religious, cultural or personal reasons for it. Both are legitimate. Both can result in a deeply meaningful farewell.
If the person who passed left any record of their wishes, that's always the best starting point. If they didn't, this decision falls to the family. Most people find it helpful to think about a few key factors: cost, timing, cultural or religious considerations, and what kind of ongoing memorial feels right.
Cremation
Cremation reduces the body to ashes through high-temperature combustion. The process takes two to three hours and the ashes — typically 1–3 kg — are returned to the family, usually within a few days.
What it involves
The body is transferred into the care of a funeral director, placed in a coffin or cremation capsule, and taken to a crematorium. You can hold a formal service before or after the cremation, or not at all. Many families choose a direct cremation — no formal service, lower cost — and then hold a private memorial in their own time and place.
What happens with the ashes
Ashes can be kept in an urn at home, scattered at a meaningful location (with relevant permits depending on the state), buried in a cemetery, interred in a niche or columbarium wall, or transformed into a memorial object — including jewellery, glass artwork, or a memorial tree.
Around 80% of Western Australian families now choose cremation, and the national average is close to 70%. Direct cremation — with no formal service — is growing quickly as families increasingly choose to separate the cremation from a personal memorial.
Burial
Traditional burial involves interment of the body in a coffin in a cemetery. It is the older of the two traditions and remains meaningful for many Australian families, particularly those with Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Jewish or Islamic faith backgrounds.
What it involves
The body is embalmed (optional, but common for burial), placed in a coffin, and buried in a cemetery plot. A funeral service is typically held at a chapel or graveside. The service and the burial usually happen on the same day.
Cemetery plots in Australia
Cemetery plots vary significantly by state and location. In Sydney and Canberra, inner-city plots can cost $15,000–$20,000 or more. Regional plots are considerably more affordable. In Western Australia, an important distinction: most cemetery plots are sold as 30-year interments, not in perpetuity — families must renew or the remains may be relocated.
Direct comparison
Cremation
- More affordable, particularly direct cremation
- Flexible — service can be held separately, at any time
- Ashes can be kept, scattered, or interred
- Faster process — typically within days
- No ongoing cemetery fees for ashes at home
- More common across Australia now
Burial
- A permanent physical place to visit
- Traditional — often important for faith communities
- Coffin and cemetery plot costs are significant
- Plot costs vary enormously by location
- Ongoing cemetery fees may apply
- 30-year interment limit in WA
Alternative options
Beyond traditional burial and cremation, several alternatives are available in Australia — though not in every state.
Natural or green burial
The body is buried without embalming in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, often in a natural bush setting rather than a formal cemetery. Available at designated natural burial grounds in several states. A meaningful option for those with environmental values.
Body donation
Some people choose to donate their body to medical science. Most Australian universities and medical schools accept body donations, though specific requirements apply. The institution covers the cost of cremation and returns ashes to the family after a period of time, usually several years.
Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis)
A water-based alternative to cremation that uses warm water and alkali to dissolve the body. More environmentally gentle than cremation. Available in some Australian states — check availability with funeral directors in your area.
Questions worth asking before you decide
- Did the person leave any record of their wishes?
- Are there religious or cultural traditions that apply?
- Is having a physical place to visit important for the family?
- What is the family's budget for the funeral?
- Are there family members who live interstate or overseas who need time to travel?
- Would a direct cremation with a later memorial feel meaningful, or not?
You do not need to make this decision within hours. A good funeral director will give you time and information, not push you toward a choice. If you feel pressured, take a step back — or speak to a different provider.
Once you've decided
Once you know which direction you're going, the next step is planning the service itself — the ceremony, the tone, the music, the people involved. Remember Well• guides you through every part of this and builds a summary document you can hand directly to your funeral director.
Plan the farewell, one step at a time.
Remember Well• guides you through every decision — from burial vs cremation to the final farewell. Free to start, saves automatically.
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