Would you try this unusual online money-maker? Aussies turn to controversial new way of getting extra cash

In an unusual twist on the real estate market, some Australians are cashing in on the scarcity of cemetery plots.

With demand for burial space far outstripping supply, prime plots are being listed online for eye-watering sums—sometimes fetching more than luxury homes in regional areas.

A seaside grave at Sydney’s iconic Waverley Cemetery is currently being offered for $165,000, while plots in Melbourne and Queensland have been advertised for $95,000 and $25,000 respectively. By comparison, the average plot costs around $10,000, but prices have surged 30% over the past decade, according to NSW-based funeral company Funera.

Why cemetery plots are becoming big business

The $165,000 Waverley listing is being handled by Belle Property agent Mark Gilden on behalf of family friends who purchased elsewhere. ‘I’ve had some inquiry, some to and fro with a few people (but) no one’s made a firm offer yet,’ Mr Gilden told the Daily Telegraph.

He added: ‘There’s this big shortage and that’s the interesting thing, because a lot of people in Sydney will have to either go even further afield to visit or to bury somebody.’

How interment rights work

In NSW, cemetery plots are sold as “interment rights.” These can be perpetual or renewable and, importantly, may be transferred or bequeathed. The Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 restricts individuals to a maximum of two interment rights at any one time.

A Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW spokesperson said: ‘This is a very real issue which is why we are working to deliver a solution that will protect our religious communities and their practices for generations.’

Demand is outpacing supply

Authorities warn that public cemeteries in Sydney are projected to run out of faith-based burial plots as early as next year. The NSW government has tasked Crown cemetery operators with identifying new sites and increasing capacity to address the looming shortage.

Meanwhile, private sellers continue to list plots and even family crypts online, with some advertisements highlighting features more commonly seen in property sales. One listing describes a grave as ‘ocean-facing with sweeping views.’

Why this matters</h3]

The shortage is already shaping the way families plan for end-of-life arrangements. With more than 100,000 people already buried in Waverley Cemetery—including cultural icons Henry Lawson, Victor Trumper, and Dorothea Mackellar—the scarcity of plots is driving both cultural and financial pressures.

A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure confirmed that in NSW, individuals can purchase an interment right, which provides the legal right to bury remains in a specified location. ‘To help address the crisis, the NSW government has tasked Crown cemetery operators to identify options to increase burial space in Sydney, including identifying new potential sites,’ they said.

Cemetery plots currently on the market

• Waverley Cemetery (NSW) – $165,000


• Melbourne General Cemetery (VIC) – $95,000


• Allambe Gardens (QLD) – $25,000

What This Means For You

What was once a quiet, solemn part of community life has now become a surprising corner of the property market. As supply shrinks, cemetery plots are being treated less as a service and more as an asset—with sellers marketing them as rare, high-demand investments. For families, however, the shortage raises urgent questions about access, affordability, and cultural needs in Australia’s biggest cities.

Would you consider selling or buying a cemetery plot online? Share your thoughts in the comments below.