Melbourne Cemetery Chapels

The Melbourne Cemetery Chapels, built around 1860, are located on the east side of Packhorse Road in Melbourne. Constructed from rock-faced ashlar with ashlar dressings, they feature a double chamfered plinth and steeply pitched roofs covered in lozenge-patterned grey and green slate, complete with crested ridge tiles and lapped stone coped gables supported by moulded kneelers and corbelled eaves bands.

The chapels are arranged at right angles to each other, with a central tower in between. This tower includes a full-width carriage arch, featuring a moulded pointed arch supported by triple clustered shafts with moulded capitals, a hoodmould, and a relieving arch above. The upper stage of the tower has a chamfered band at the base and a moulded cornice, topped with corner gargoyles. The east and west sides of the tower each have a central cusped ogee-headed window with crocketed hoodmoulds and finials. The corners of this stage taper upwards, leading to an octagonal top. Above this, the tower narrows and is crowned by an octagonal turret with gabled louvred lancets on each side and a slim banded spire above.

The chapel attached to the south features three 2-light plate tracery windows on its west elevation and stepped buttresses at either end. The east elevation is similar, but the southern window is located within a small gabled vestry. The south gable wall has a 4-light geometric tracery window with a hoodmould and relieving arch above. The northern chapel mirrors this design, with plate tracery windows on the north side, a 3-light geometric tracery window on the east, and a 4-light cusped intersecting tracery window with a roundel at the top on the west side. Both chapels have Caernarvon arched doorcases beneath the tower, each featuring double doors and decorated spandrels. The interiors of the chapels are quite plain, showcasing arched trusses on carved spandrels and tiled floors.