Held in collaboration with the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) and Open House Melbourne, Design + Death | Time Immemorial invites audiences to explore the intersection of design and death as expressed at Bunurong Memorial Park.

10AM—12.15PM – Following a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC), the Time Immemorial panel moderated by Amy Muir, in conversation with Damian Ramondetta, Hayley West and Melissa King, will look the cemetery’s upcoming Miscarriage Memorial and discuss varying practices of memorialisation.

12.15PM—1.30PM – After a thoughtfully curated buffet lunch In Memorial Landscapes | Aspirations + Design, SMCT’s Head of Property, Infrastructure & Facilities, Nicholas Beck and Aspect Studio’s Kirsten Bauer and Erwin Taal discuss how they tackled the unique brief for creating an inclusive space to meet the cultural, spiritual and future needs of the Victorian community.

2.15PM—4PM Breakout sessions + afternoon tea

Gain a greater understanding of the cemetery’s design and its ongoing operations in one of a series of interactive afternoon breakout sessions.

Option one: Memorial Landscapes | Aspect Studio Tour

Join Aspect Studio’s Kirsten Bauer + Erwin Taal on a tour to hear about the planning, design and natural environments that shape and connect the space.

Option two: Call of the Dreaming

Presented by proud Bunurong woman Jillian West, this session explores Bunurong Memorial Park as a part of the cycle of birth, life and death on traditional Bunurong land.

Option three: Grave Matters | Sustainability in Cemeteries

Hear Environmental Strategies Manager Nina Thomas on SMCT’s environmental strategy, being green within cemeteries, and the rise in popularity of natural burials.

Option four: The Language of Flowers

SMCT’s Florist Team Leader Gina Kelly takes you through designing your own beautiful hand-tied classic floral bouquet, using predominantly locally grown flowers.

Important information to note before you book:

All tickets include entry to morning panel discussions and one of four afternoon breakout sessions.
Capacities for afternoon breakout sessions are limited to 20 people. Selections can be made at the time of purchase – this operates on a first in basis.
A light morning tea will be available upon arrival, plus a buffet lunch and afternoon tea refreshments. Please advise of dietaries by 5pm, Monday 20 May.
Please ensure any accessibility requirements are communicated by 5pm, Monday 20 May.

Schedule

9.30am Arrival

10am Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country with BLCAC

10.30am Morning tea

11am Time Immemorial panel conversation

12.15pm Lunch - buffet style

1pm Memorial Landscapes: Aspirations + Design

2pm Breakout sessions followed by afternoon tea

4pm Event concludes

BMP Visiting hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Transport: Enter via main gates for parking. Please note that there may be a short (maximum 10-15 minutes) walk from the parking lot to the venue. There is also public transport access via the Route 901 bus that stops at our grounds' entrance.

Accessibility

Venues are wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair is available upon request.

Design + Death is presented by Open House Melbourne in partnership with Major Program Partner Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and Program Partners Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and DeathTech Research Team in association with the University of Melbourne School of Computing and Information Systems and School of Culture and Communication.