Building Harkness Memorial Park: The Build
Brendan Koch, Group General Manager West Region (right) and Daniel Walkeden, Senior Supervisor Burial Operations (middle) at Altona Memorial Park.
After years of planning and consultation, construction at Harkness Memorial Park is ramping up. What was once wheat fields is taking shape as Melbourne west’s newest memorial park – and GMCT’s operational expertise is shaping how it’s being built.
In the final video of our Building Harkness Memorial Park series, Group General Manager West Region, Brendan Koch, and Senior Supervisor Burial Operations Daniel Walkeden share how decades of experience is informing construction.
Built on experience
Every year, GMCT helps more than 12,000 families across Melbourne’s west during some of life’s most difficult moments. This experience matters when building something new.
“I think what I’m excited about with Harkness, it’s the opportunity to innovate a little bit and have a new age cemetery,” says Brendan. “Something different and more environmentally sustainable.”
For GMCT, innovation isn’t just about design concepts – it’s about understanding what families actually need when they need us most. That knowledge comes from decades of service across the region and extensive community engagement across diverse groups who bring different perspectives.
“We really invited the community to find out what they want the site to be, not just what we think it’s going to be,” explains Brendan. “We want to build something special that the community are really proud of. That’s my big ambition for it.”
The human side of service
For Daniel, working on Harkness means thinking beyond infrastructure and logistics.
“Being involved in the development, it’s always good to put yourself in the customer’s shoes,” he reflects. “You know, if that was you and your family. It’s going that extra mile, trying to really meet their needs where we can.”
This empathy drives everything from how memorial spaces are designed to how to staff will support families when the park opens. The team developing Harkness includes people who will actually work there, ensuring that operational realities and family needs shape every decision.
A long-term commitment
Harkness Memorial Park isn’t a one-off project. It’s GMCT deepening its commitment to a region it has served for decades. From Keilor to Werribee, our team has always been there for the families of Melbourne’s west. And next year, we’ll extend that care to the City of Melton – a fast-growing community with a rich history and diverse culture.
“I love the fact that the community’s been onboard with us from day one,” says Brendan. “We can build something really special. An open green space that can be more than just a cemetery.”
When Harkness opens in 2027, families across Melbourne’s west will have local access to a memorial park built specifically for their needs. They’ll also have the backing of an organisation with proven experience serving diverse communities.
-
Harkness Memorial Park is redefining what a cemetery can be. As the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust’s (GMCT) first greenfield development, this landmark project will serve communities for generations to come.
We are now at the end of our Building Harkness Memorial Park video series. You’ve been taken behind the scenes of Victoria’s largest new cemetery in the last century and met some of the people shaping this innovative space. With little over 12-months until opening, together we will witness the vision come to fruition as roads are laid, gardens planted, memorial spaces formed, and the building foundations poured.
Keep up to date with the project
The first stage of Harkness Memorial Park is expected to open in early 2027.
Keep up to date with our progress by subscribing for project updates or exploring our development timeline.