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An A4-sized overview map of the Independent cemetery sections is available for download here

There are over 620,000 burials and 210,000 cremations recorded at Rookwood. The first burials took place in 1867. Older monuments have since been moved to Rookwood from earlier burial grounds resumed elsewhere in Sydney. Cremations date from 1925 but did not become a significant proportion of the services held at Rookwood until 1945. It is useful if you know:

• The year of death
• Whether the deceased was cremated or buried.
• The denominational cemetery where the deceased was most likely to have been interred.

Records of all burials and cremations are held in the respective offices. The respective offices located at Rookwood are:

• Anglican & General
• Australian War Graves
• Roman Catholic
• Independent ( Uniting, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Wesleyan )
• Muslim
• Rookwood Memorial Gardens
• Jewish (records held off site)

If you think the deceased may have been cremated, start your enquiries at the Rookwood Memorial Gardens.

If death occurred after 1925, start your enquiry at the most likely denominational office. Once you have found the correct office, the staff will be able to help you find the grave.