Ipswich City Council has completed extensive upgrades and expansion of Tallegalla Cemetery in Tallegalla as it approaches its sesquicentennial.
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said Tallegalla Cemetery, located on Rosewood Marburg Road, is one of Ipswich’s historic cemeteries serving the community, dating back to 1876.
It has both monumental and lawn graves, as well as a columbarium wall and memorial gardens.
“The historic cemetery at Tallegalla is now looking better than ever. Tallegalla Cemetery is almost 150 years old and much-needed refurbishment was necessary with new areas created,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“Council allocated money in its 2024-2025 Budget to deliver Stage 2 of this major expansion and upgrade to the cemetery.
“The works included improvements to internal roads, landscaping and new amenities to support future growth, while protecting the heritage of the site.”
Cr Antoniolli said the overall cost of this project was $2.3 million, fully funded by Ipswich City Council.
Division 4 Councillor Jim Madden said the expansion works extended north within the cemetery and below the existing heritage area but did not impact existing graves.
“The cemetery is a significant connection to Ipswich’s past and present and it was important that council carry out construction to meet community expectations,” Cr Madden said.
“The work included retaining and protecting existing lawn beams and burial plots, extensive earthworks to level the site, upgrading the existing vehicular road, building new roads and carparking, and rehabilitating the existing road network, which was conducted after other works were completed.”
Division 4 Councillor David Martin said the public could take comfort from the cemetery’s new memorial walking path.
“Council received feedback from the community about potential upgrades and expansion to the cemetery and we listened to that,” Cr Martin said.
“In addition to the memorial path, we have constructed new edging, shelters, pathways and seating. There is new signage and line marking, and old fences have been replaced. Landscaping work included established trees, ground cover, seating and shelters.”
Council also built a new single amenities block, new retaining walls, drainage and storm water drains, and repaired damaged grass and turfed disturbed areas.
This is part of ongoing work and master-planning across all five council-owned cemeteries – Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery in Willowbank, Stone Quarry Cemetery in Jeebropilly, Tallegalla Cemetery, Ipswich General and Haigslea.
Cr Antoniolli said with the Ipswich population projected to double from its current 260,000 to more than 533,000 by 2046, it was essential that council plan to cater for that growth – and that includes our cemeteries and other essential services.
“Council is undertaking extensive work across our cemeteries to ensure there is more space available in decades to come and to provide comfortable and appropriate surrounds for family and friends to pay their respects to loved ones,” Cr Antoniolli said.
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