Guildford Cemetery: A Family Guide

Written by Gift of Grace Funerals · Published 6 October 2026 · 9 min read

Guildford Cemetery Perth families have used since the 1880s is one of Western Australia’s most historic burial grounds, and it is still a working cemetery for families across the Swan region today. Whether you are arranging a burial, choosing a place for ashes or tracing a family grave, it helps to know how the cemetery is run and what it offers. This guide explains where it is, who manages it, its history, burial and memorial options, and how to find a grave.

Where is Guildford Cemetery?

Guildford Cemetery is on Kalamunda Road in South Guildford, in the City of Swan. It sits between the Great Eastern Highway Bypass and Kalamunda Road, next to Perth Airport.

Kalamunda Road runs through the cemetery and divides it into different sections. There are several entrances with plenty of visitor parking nearby, and disability parking is shown on the MCB’s cemetery map. Because the grounds are spread out, it is a good idea to check the exact burial location before a funeral or visit.

Who manages Guildford Cemetery?

Guildford Cemetery is managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, not the City of Swan. The MCB took over its administration from the Shire of Swan in 1989, along with Midland Cemetery.

The land is owned by the State of Western Australia under a management order to the MCB, according to the State heritage register entry. This matters for families because bookings, grave purchases, memorials and records all go through the MCB. You can reach the MCB on 1300 793 109, and its office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For funeral arrangements at Guildford, the MCB suggests checking the burial location with its Pinnaroo office or your funeral director.

A brief history of Guildford Cemetery

Guildford Cemetery dates from the late 1800s, when Guildford’s churchyard burial grounds were filling up. On 10 December 1887, the colonial government agreed to set aside 50 acres south of the Helena River as a public cemetery.

The heritage register entry records that the land was surveyed in 1888 into Catholic, Wesleyan and Church of England sections, and that an access road was completed in 1891. Over the following decades the cemetery passed through several forms of management:

• 1915: the Guildford Cemetery Board was appointed.
• 1937: following the Guildford Cemeteries Act 1936, the land became a public cemetery, with existing burial rights and denominational sections kept in place.
• 1989: the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board took over management from the Swan Shire Council.
• 1993 to 1995: the grounds were landscaped, and car parking, memorial gardens and niche walls were added.
• 2004: the Swan Region Mausoleum opened.

The MCB says Guildford holds the remains of some of Western Australia’s most notable pioneers. The Heritage Council of Western Australia has listed the cemetery on the State Register of Heritage Places, and the register entry highlights its links with early settlers, convicts and others who shaped Guildford and the Swan district.

Burial options at Guildford Cemetery

Guildford Cemetery offers lawn graves and traditional full monumental graves, in both denominational and general areas. Each grave can hold two adult burials and an unlimited number of cremated remains.

Denominational and cultural areas

The older parts of the cemetery are arranged by faith, including Anglican, Coptic, Orthodox, Macedonian, Muslim and Roman Catholic areas. There is also a special area for Aboriginal burials. Newer areas are generally non-denominational, although the MCB notes that families of the same faith still tend to be buried near each other.

The Swan Region Mausoleum

Guildford is home to the Swan Region Mausoleum, an open-air, Mediterranean-style garden crypt with 168 crypts over four levels and a life-sized bronze statue of St Anthony. The MCB says all crypts are now sold and there are no current plans to extend it. Families who want entombment can ask about crypts at the Karrakatta and Fremantle mausoleums instead.

Choosing a grave

Graves can be bought in advance or at the time of need. Buying ahead lets you choose the location, and family members can buy plots nearby so they can rest together. Without a pre-purchased plot, MCB staff allocate the next available grave. The MCB’s Guildford page describes free selection appointments of about an hour to help families choose. If you are still deciding between burial and cremation, our guide to cremation vs burial in Perth may help.

Memorial options for ashes at Guildford

Ashes can be placed at Guildford Cemetery in memorial gardens, niche walls, ground niches or with a rose bush. Memorials can also be created without ashes, so family have a place to visit.

• Memorial Gardens: located throughout the cemetery, with different plaque styles depending on the garden.
• Guildford Classic Niche Walls: granite walls in the classic Guildford style.
• Other options: ground niches, rose bushes, niche walls and landscaped features.

Guildford Cemetery does not have its own crematorium. Cremation in Perth takes place at one of the MCB’s crematoria, and the ashes can then be brought to Guildford for a memorial. Our cremations in Perth page explains how this works. A memorial selection appointment with MCB staff is free and includes help finalising the plaque wording.

Visiting Guildford Cemetery

MCB cemeteries are generally open from daylight to dusk every day, so you can visit at a time that suits you. With several entrances along Kalamunda Road, it is worth checking the cemetery map or the person’s grave location before you go.

Many of the historic areas still have their original headstones, and the heritage register notes that a government-funded project in 1996 restored colonial and early 1900s gravesites. If you are bringing flowers or ornaments, check the MCB’s flower and ornament policy first, as some items are not allowed on graves.

Guildford Cemetery records: how to find a grave

The easiest way to find a grave at Guildford Cemetery is the MCB’s online Name Search. You search by name, and the index covers Guildford alongside the other MCB cemeteries.

The MCB holds records of burials, cremations and memorials dating back to 1899. However, it notes that because Guildford’s records were taken over from the Shire of Swan in 1989, some older records are believed to be incomplete. For family history research, the MCB’s genealogy page explains how to request historical funeral application forms and headstone photographs. If you can’t find someone, call the MCB on 1300 793 109 for help.

Arranging a funeral at Guildford Cemetery

A funeral director usually books the burial at Guildford Cemetery with the MCB, confirms the grave location and organises the paperwork. The MCB recommends families use a licensed funeral director, who must give you a written estimate of all funeral charges.

The MCB’s Guildford page does not list a chapel at the cemetery, so many families hold the service at a church or another venue and then gather at the graveside for the committal. Others choose a graveside-only service. Your funeral director will help you choose what feels right and coordinate timings with the cemetery. You can also check the MCB’s Today’s Funerals list to see which services are on.

Gift of Grace Funerals cares for families across Perth, including Midland and the Swan region. Our Forever Grace Plus package, with a chapel service and graveside committal, is $12,500, GST included. Find out more on our Midland funeral directors page or compare all options on our funeral packages page.

Honouring History and Family at Guildford Cemetery

Guildford Cemetery is both a heritage-listed part of Western Australia’s story and a working cemetery for families in Perth’s east today. With lawn and monumental graves, memorial gardens and niche walls, it offers a quiet, local place to lay a loved one to rest or remember them.

If you are researching family history, the MCB Name Search is the best place to start. If you are arranging a funeral, your funeral director will coordinate the burial or memorial booking with the MCB for you.

Frequently asked questions

Who manages Guildford Cemetery in Perth?

Guildford Cemetery is managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, a WA Government body. The MCB took over from the Shire of Swan in 1989 and handles bookings, grave sales, memorials and records. You can contact the MCB on 1300 793 109.

Where is Guildford Cemetery?

Guildford Cemetery is on Kalamunda Road in South Guildford, next to Perth Airport and between the Great Eastern Highway Bypass and Kalamunda Road. It has several entrances with visitor parking.

How do I search Guildford Cemetery records?

Use the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board’s online Name Search to find a grave by name. Some older Guildford records taken over from the Shire of Swan may be incomplete, so call the MCB on 1300 793 109 if you can’t find who you are looking for.

Can you still be buried at Guildford Cemetery?

Yes. Guildford Cemetery offers lawn and traditional monumental graves, and each grave can hold two adult burials plus cremated remains. The crypts in the Swan Region Mausoleum are all sold, but memorial options for ashes are available.

Is there a crematorium at Guildford Cemetery?

No. Cremations take place at one of the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board’s crematoria elsewhere in Perth. Ashes can then be placed in a memorial garden, niche wall or ground niche at Guildford Cemetery.

Please note: Details in this guide were checked against Metropolitan Cemeteries Board information at the time of publishing. Facilities, hours and fees can change, so please confirm with the MCB on 1300 793 109 before you visit or book.