Harkaway Cemetery

Gateway Funerals arranges burials and graveside services at Harkaway Cemetery, a historic hilltop cemetery in the rolling hills above Berwick.

(03) 9776 0299
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About Harkaway Cemetery

Harkaway Cemetery is at 202 Hessel Road, Harkaway, in the hills north of Berwick. Its earliest legible headstones date from the 1860s, and the land was recorded as ‘Zions Hill’ in an 1873 deed before being gazetted as a cemetery in 1905.

The cemetery is closely linked with Harkaway’s early German settler families, including the Wanke, Hillbrich and Aurisch families. Across the road stands the historic bell tower, built in 1869, whose bell ‘Concordia’ still tolls for funerals.

Since 2014 the cemetery has been managed by the Berwick and Harkaway Cemeteries Trust. Alongside its historic monumental section, a lawn cemetery and memorial garden have been developed for today’s families.

Venue details

Address
202 Hessel Road, Harkaway VIC 3806

Venue type
Historic cemetery with monumental & lawn sections

Region
Harkaway, south-east Melbourne

Office hours
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm

Trust phone
0477 111 304

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Facilities at a glance

  • Historic monumental section
  • Lawn cemetery and memorial garden
  • Peaceful hilltop setting
  • Historic 1869 bell tower nearby
  • Managed by the Berwick and Harkaway Cemeteries Trust
  • Graveside services welcome

How Gateway Funerals can help

Harkaway is a small and special place. We work with the Trust to arrange a farewell that honours your family and its traditions.

Burial arrangements

We confirm an available grave with the Berwick and Harkaway Cemeteries Trust, book the interment and handle every form.

A graveside farewell

We arrange the celebrant, seating and music for a personal graveside service, and can ask about tolling the Concordia bell.

Services nearby

Hold the funeral at a local church or our Chelsea Heights chapel, then travel to Harkaway for the committal.

A cemetery with pioneer roots

Harkaway was settled by German families in the mid-1800s, and many of their descendants are buried here. The bell tower opposite the cemetery was built in 1869 and restored in 1935 and 1974.

Its bell, named Concordia, rings each New Year’s Eve and tolls for funerals, continuing a long community tradition.

Notable features

  • Earliest legible headstones from the 1860s
  • Recorded as ‘Zions Hill’ in 1873
  • Gazetted as a cemetery in 1905
  • Historic 1869 bell tower and Concordia bell
  • Graves of German pioneer families
  • Lawn cemetery and memorial garden

Frequently asked questions

Harkaway Cemetery is at 202 Hessel Road, Harkaway, in the hills north of Berwick.

The Berwick and Harkaway Cemeteries Trust has managed Harkaway Cemetery since 2014. The Trust can be contacted on 0477 111 304.

The cemetery has a historic monumental section and a newer lawn cemetery. We confirm current availability with the Trust.

The bell tower across the road was built in 1869. Its bell, Concordia, still tolls for funerals.

Yes. We arrange funerals across Melbourne’s south-east, including Harkaway and Berwick.

Arrange a farewell at Harkaway Cemetery

Gateway Funerals is here for your family 24 hours a day. Call us, request a quote or explore the other venues we work with.

(03) 9776 0299
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A traditional service, with your loved one present, followed by burial or cremation. Everyone who loved them gathers to grieve, remember, and say goodbye, in a way that honours your family’s traditions.

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Honouring Memories with National Monuments

At Gateway Funerals, we understand the importance of commemorating loved ones with dignity and respect. That’s why we have partnered with National Monuments, licensed and experienced monumental stonemasons servicing council, church, and trust cemeteries in Melbourne and wider VIC regions.

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Testimonials

Shane Porter
2 weeks ago
I could not recommend Martine, Deena and staff at Gateway enough.You and the team went above and beyond standard duties to support our family through this difficult time.Showing us kindness and genuine compassion along the way.You will not know how much this meant to us.
David P
4 months ago
We are very grateful for Martine and the team at Gateway Funerals for everything they did for mum and our family. Martine was not only considerate, compassionate and comforting, but took care of us and the process, patiently explaining different options to us. The suppliers that they used for livestream, flowers and booklets were all high quality. Thank you, Martine and the team for all your help and support during the difficult time.
Diana
6 months ago
Gateway Funerals gave Dad a farewell beyond our expectations; he would be so happy. Brendan is so in tune with the emotional side, so respectful and diligent. We thank all the staff who answered emails within minutes. The establishment was immaculate, and a huge load was lifted from our shoulders. The catering was perfect, the flowers perfect and our celebrant, Anne Edwards, was 10,000% perfect! Absolutely nothing went wrong; we can highly recommend them.
Aussie Girl
7 months ago
We’re very grateful to Gateway Funeral Services for their compassion and professionalism during the loss of both my parents in 2025. They made a difficult time much easier to navigate. A special thank you to Martine whose care and support meant the world to our family. Highly recommend. Thank you Louise, Amanda and Katie.❤️
Jennifer Chen
7 months ago
​I want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire team for the incredible care you provided during such a painful time. You didn't just organize a service; you created a warm and dignified farewell that truly helped ease the weight of my grief. ​A special thanks to Martine, whose patience and dedication in answering every question and meeting every request made a world of difference. Your professionalism, combined with the wonderful celebrant/host, turned a difficult day into a beautiful tribute. Thank you for your warmth and for treating my loved one with such grace.
Lisa Maree
8 months ago
I can’t thank the team at Gateway Funerals enough! They were wonderful. The process was stress free and we had a wonderful memorial for my much loved Brother. I would highly recommend their services.
Jason Kelley
8 months ago
Our family used Gateway Funerals for my brother Shannon’s service and we couldn’t be more grateful for how they looked after us. From the first conversation right through to the day of the service, they were kind, patient and very easy to deal with. During a really difficult time they helped guide us through everything and took a lot of the stress off our shoulders. The service itself at Bunurong Memorial Park was handled beautifully and everything ran smoothly. It meant a lot to our family knowing Shannon was being looked after with such care and respect. A big thank you to the whole Gateway team for helping us give my brother the send-off he deserved.
JP Keats
10 months ago
Martine was so considerate, thoughtful and caring throughout the whole process. She made each step so simple for us to deal with in such a difficult time. Thank you so much for everything
Angela Mawhinney
10 months ago
I would like to share my sincere thanks and gratitude to Dina at Gateway Funerals. She helped guide my family through the entire process with warmth, kindness, compassion and provided such a personal service to us. She truly went above and beyond to ensure that everything went smoothly and that my father had the best possible send off. Thank you Dina. You helped us more than you know.
Jim Walker
10 months ago
Extremely personable and professional. Appreciated their individualized care and attention.
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