McGregor Coxall will form part of a consortium tasked with designing the masterplan for Harkness Cemetery, the largest cemetery development project in Victoria in over 100 years.
The multidisciplinary consortium led by Aurecon with Architectus, McGregor Coxall and Greenshoot won the design competition for the development of a masterplan for a new cemetery and parklands on a 128-hectare greenfield site approximately 40 kilometres northwest of the Melbourne CBD. The site is located near the edge of Melbourne’s growth zone boundary, with residential areas to one side and green wedge zones on the other.
McGregor Coxall co-studio leader and project manager Miranda Wilkinson said the design of the site offered a significant opportunity to invoke positive social and environmental change.
“Core to our approach is the celebration of First People’s knowledge and culture and honouring the Wurundjeri people as the site’s Traditional Owners,” she said.
Aurecon principal and consortium lead Alistair Adams said the project presented a significant and timely opportunity to reimagine traditional cemetery design.
“Our team seeks to set a new benchmark for sustainability, restoration and repair, engagement, honouring memorialisation and enhancing the public realm.”
GMCT chair Michael Doery said: “The state of Victoria has a once-in-a-100-year opportunity to work with the community to build a world-class asset that provides comfort to families.”
The winning consortium’s entry was selected from a pool of 24 submissions from around the globe in a competition commissioned by the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT).
An article on McGregor Coxall’s website states that a broad, social values-based approach will drive the development of the masterplan and that a “thorough engagement strategy will ensure the needs and aspirations of the site’s Traditional Owners, communities and stakeholders are listened to, understood, and reflected.” The masterplan will aim to create a multi-functional site and valued community open space that hosts a variety of potential uses in addition to the function of a public cemetery.
Design phases for the project will commence in September 2021, with completion of the masterplan anticipated by June 2022.
