But a new,sprawling memorial park in Melbourne's south-east is attempting to transform how Melbourne views the places we bury our dead.
Bunurong Memorial Park started in 1995,and for two decades sat as a small cemetery and crematorium in Dandenong South.
Now,it is something much bigger – and something the city hasn't seen the likes of before.
"There is a change of narrative here – cemeteries are for the dead and memorial parks are for the living,and the families. They need to not be relics of the past,"said Jane Grover as she trekked around Bunurong's newly completed 101 hectares.
As she walked,Ms Grover,chief executive of the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust,pointed out the park's many features – running and walking tracks,playground,barbecue area,parklands,function rooms and a welcoming cafe.
The trust wants to turn the cemetery away from being simply somewhere a deceased person is memorialised to a community parkland where loved ones are remembered by families,among a range of other activities – some completely unrelated to death including weddings and business functions.