Natural burials offer families peace at NSW conservation cemetery

A southern mahogany sapling marks where Adam Clark lies out at Walawaani Way. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) One of Australia's largest natural burial grounds has opened on the NSW far south coast. Since December 2025, six bodies have been interred at Walawaani Way, with 93 plots so far sold. The Australian Cemetery and Cremetoria Association says the number of natural burials is rising, but remains small compared to cremation and traditional methods. Link copiedShareShare articleCristina Giusti feels at peace when she visits her son's grave. Before her son Adam Clark died in January, the two had discussed how he would like to be buried. "From a young boy, he loved being out in the bush in the country," she said. "He loved the fact that we could plant a tree on his grave and his remains would go to feed this tree." Cristina Giusti spoke with her son, Adam, about what he wanted before he died. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) Adam was one of the first people buried at Walawaani Way, a conservation burial ground located on a former cattle paddock in Bodalla on the NSW south coast. Ms Giusti remembered when she first found a spot for her son between two gum trees on a hill overlooking the Tuross River, with cows grazing in the pastures below. "We lined up his site, and I lay on the ground," she said. "It was a really emotional time because I'd just lost my eldest child, my son. Adam Grant wanted to have a tree on his grave. (Supplied) All burials at Walawaani Way are done either in biodegradable or compostable containers, such as coffins made from wicker or cardboard, or the body is deposited in the ground in a natural fibre shroud. There are no headstones marking sites, but instead a native tree is chosen and planted on top of the grave. For Adam, Ms Giusti chose a southern mahogany sapling to mark his place. Adam's grave overlooks the Tuross River at Walawaani Way. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) A natural burial involves burying a deceased person in a shallow grave and allowing them to decompose naturally, usually with minimal disturbance to neighbouring bushland. All materials involved in the burial are biodegradable, such as wicker, cane or cardboard caskets and coffins, or being buried only in a shroud from a natural fibre, such as silk, cotton or linen. Woven coffins are a biodegradable option for bodies to be placed within. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) Walawaani Way founder Fiona McCuiag said more people were looking into a natural burial in part because they wanted a simple, environmentally conscious farewell. "They don't want to have all the fuss. They're not wanting to do another polluting act," she said. Walaawani Way is located in Bodalla on the NSW south coast. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) Walawaani Way has already sold 93 plots, with six bodies interred since opening in December 2025. Ms McCuiag said the cost was on par with what the local Eurobodalla Shire Council charged for interment. "Eventually, I'd love to get it to the same price with the services included as cremation," she said. Fiona McCuaig wants the burial ground to double as conservation habitat for species like the glossy black cockatoo. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) Not-for-profit the Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN) estimates that there are 31 natural burial sites across Australia, up from 14 in 2020. NDAN offers accreditation for natural burial sites and sets minimum standards, which include only one body per gravesite compared to traditional internment sites going three deep. The burials must also be plastic-free and chemical-free as much as possible. "The best way for a body to decompose into beneficial elements is actually having a body at the top of the surface of the soil," Ms McCuiag said. So far, six bodies have been interred out at Walawaani Way. (ABC South East NSW: Toby Hemmings) Family members also have control over how they decorate their loved ones' graves. "There's the option of people being able to put in a little bit of mulch, a little bit of topsoil, native flowers as they choose," she said. Bodies can be interred in only a shroud. (Supplied: Rebecca Lyons) "They're involved and feel good about a proper goodbye, and that's what it's all about. Casuarinas, southern mahoganies and black she-oaks have also been planted at Walawaani Way to conserve and regenerate the local environment. Coffins for natural burials can be made of cardboard and decorated by family members and loved ones. (Supplied: Brent Occleshaw) Barriers remain to natural burials becoming more commonplace, including the stringent public health regulations and local government permissions that govern where people can be buried. It took Ms McCuiag nearly 10 years of navigating state and local government red tape to make Walawaani Way a reality. "We needed to do all the geotech and all the reports that were needed to make it a natural burial and also protect the environment,"

Natural burials offer families peace at NSW conservation cemetery

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