Since 1857, more than 13,000 burials have taken place at the cemetery, including historical figures in the twin towns’ history, including Henry Hopwood.
For cemetery trust chairperson David Jones, the site is a place of historical importance.
“This particular cemetery has got a lot of historical value for the community,” he said.
“A lot of very old monuments.
“Probably, the locals don’t realise just how much value we have in securing all of that history for Echuca.”
With the region increasingly growing, the cemetery has needed to expand to future-proof burials.
The north lawn provides more space at the site, and adjoins bushland that backs on to the Campapse River.
“We’re at a point now, weighing up the options for Echuca and the interment of our loved ones in the future,” Mr Jones said.
“Hence where we are now with our new north lawn.
“It gives that sort of feel to people, who come out and have a look and say ‘we love the bushland background’.”
People choose to be buried at Echuca cemetery for a range of reasons.
Many are locals, but some have spent time in the area and want their final resting place to be among the river red gums and waterways.
“You’d be surprised the number of people who come up here,” trust member and former long-time secretary Helen Rendle said.
“They come up here because (for example) they played golf here.”
Along with the Echuca Cemetery Trust, the site is maintained by a volunteer crew, superintendent Phil Neilson and office manager Cheryl Parsons.
Together, the team makes a strong effort to keep the site in good nick.
“The bush background just makes people feel a little bit easier that mum or dad or a relation is buried in a nice spot,” Mr Jones said.
“So we’ve put a lot of work into that, and we’ve had a lot of support from the local suppliers, Kennaugh’s (Garden Centre) and those sort of people, that do the heavy lifting, trucks, carting soil.
“We’ve been pretty good managers as trust managers, and we also have a very good reliance on community input.”
The Echuca Cemetery Trust is always looking for extra support, and will be featured in the Riv’s Why not join ... series on Monday, March 31.
To get in contact, call the office on 0417 115 314 or email echucacemetery@bigpond.com
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