Each April, Ballarat Cemeteries honours those who served our nation by placing a flag at every known service grave. It’s a remarkable effort – one that takes more than a week to complete – with dedicated staff and volunteers working across the cemeteries’ vast grounds to ensure no one is forgotten.

This year, we warmly invite everyone in the community to experience this tribute in person.

The gates of both cemeteries will be open following the dawn service in Ballarat on Anzac Day, offering families, friends, and the wider community a special opportunity to walk among the flags, reflect, and pay their respects in a deeply personal way. You don’t need to have a loved one interred at the cemeteries to visit – all are welcome to come, take in the display, and honour those who served. Seeing the sea of flags is a powerful reminder of the lives behind the legacy – and a chance to connect with our shared history.

Throughout April, visitors can also view a small display at the reception area of Ballarat New Cemetery, showcasing the scale and significance of this annual tribute.

For those wanting to delve deeper into the stories of local service personnel from the First World War, copies of They Answered Their Country’s Call by Ballarat Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour committee president Garry Snowden are available from the reception desk at Ballarat New Cemetery for $30.00. This remarkable book brings to life the names behind the memorials, sharing personal stories, photographs, and insights – including the contributions of local women who served.

You can also pick up a brochure from reception or the Visitor Centre at Ballarat Old Cemetery which connects via QR code which connects to The Anzac Heritage Walk Trail through Ballarat Old Cemetery. Listen to Garry narrate the stories of people who served Australia during the First World War.

The placement of these flags is one of the most meaningful commemorations in the cemeteries’ calendar — a tribute made possible by community spirit. We extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers whose dedication helps bring this tribute to life each year.

This Anzac Day, take a moment to visit, reflect, and remember.

Join us in remembering our returned service personnel

The cemetery is proud to offer our community a range of self-guided tours honouring our returned service personnel.

We also have copies available of “They Answered Their Country’s Call” — a collection of short accounts of service and sacrifice from Ballarat General Cemetery, written by Garry Snowden.

For those wishing to create a lasting tribute, small poppy tiles can be purchased to commemorate returned service personnel.

In the lead-up to ANZAC Day, our staff and local volunteers will begin placing flags throughout the cemetery. If you haven’t experienced this before, we highly recommend taking a drive through the grounds of either or both the New and Old Ballarat Cemeteries over the ANZAC weekend — it is a truly moving sight.