Average Costs
Burial funeral: $8,000-15,000+ (coffin, cemetery plot, headstone, service). Cremation funeral: $4,000-10,000 (coffin, cremation fee, service). Direct cremation (no service): $1,500-4,000. Cemetery plot: $2,000-20,000+ depending on location (Sydney cemetery plots are expensive). Headstone: $2,000-8,000. Costs vary enormously by location and choices — Sydney and Melbourne are most expensive.
Chinese Funeral Customs
Many Chinese Australian families incorporate traditional customs: specific burial orientation and feng shui considerations, paper offerings, incense, traditional mourning colours (white), multi-day ceremonies, and ancestral prayer services. Some funeral directors specialise in Chinese customs — they understand the cultural requirements and can liaise with temples. Chinese sections exist in some cemeteries (Rookwood in Sydney, Springvale in Melbourne).
Prepaid Funerals
Prepaid funeral plans lock in today's prices for future use. Cost: $4,000-15,000 depending on plan. Benefits: price protection, reduces family burden, ensures your wishes are followed. Important: prepaid plans are exempt from the aged care means test and Centrelink assets test — useful for pension planning. Choose a provider regulated under your state's Prepaid Funeral Fund regulations.