Website: Friends of Rookwood

The Friends of Rookwood are a community based organisation, passionately interested in the restoration of one of the best surviving examples of a Victorian gardenesque cemetery in the world and the largest cemetery in the Southern Hemisphere. Approximately 1 million people have their final resting place within the boundaries of it's almost 300 hectares. Our aims are to promote the interests of Rookwood Necropolis, raise public awareness of the social, cultural and historical aspects of Rookwood Necropolis and cemeteries in general, and to raise funds and provide financial assistance for special projects within Rookwood Necropolis.

Restoration Projects: We provide funds towards restoration projects within the cemetery.

Cemetery Tours: Volunteer guides lead tours throughout the cemetery on the 1st Sunday of every month from March through to November. Tours depart from the area in front of St Michael the Archangel Chapel on Necropolis Circuit(near the East Street Lidcombe entrance) at 10am. Twilight tours are also held in November, January, February and March. These tours depart from the Pedestrian Gate in East Street Lidcombe (near Railway Street) at 5.15pm sharp. All monies raised from tours goes into restoration projects within the cemetery. 

Helping Hands: The Helping Hands are a gardening group within the Friends of Rookwood who volunteer their time and energy to making the gardens look as beautiful as they do. These volunteers spend many hours weeding, shaping and beautifying the gardens. Helping Hands people meet twice a month from March to November each year to work in the gardens.