Australia

Of the 128,500 people that die each year in Australia, 54 per cent are cremated - this figure is increasing by half a per cent each year. Around the world, other percentages include:

UK - 70.70%
USA - 27.12%
Japan - 99.41%
Italy - 6.62%
Ireland - 5.40% (estimate only)
Ghana -1.78%
(Pharos International - Winter 2002 'International Cremation Statistics' - based on 2001 figures)

Cremation has been more readily accepted in some European and Asian countries: the figure in England, Germany, and Denmark, for example, is more than 50 percent. In Japan, where cremation was illegal in 1875, the practice has become almost universal.

The first cremation at the Springvale Necropolis. Image courtesy of Springvale Necropolis

In late 19th century Australia, the modern cremation movement campaigned for cremation on the basis of public health, economic and aesthetic grounds. However, cremation was slow to gain acceptance. In 1891, South Australia became the first state to legalise cremations and build a crematorium - West Terrace Cemetery in 1903. In Victoria, a cremation bill was passed in 1903, formalising and regulating the practice, and limiting it to approved cemeteries. In New South Wales, a bill was not passed until 1925.

Rookwood is the oldest continuously operating crematorium in Australia. It began operation in 1925 and now performs around 2500 cremations per year

The first cremation at the Springvale Necropolis of retired customs officer Edward Davies, April 1905. The crude crematorium contained six tons of kerosene-soaked firewood. The ashes were collected the next day and 'scattered to the four winds of heaven' according to the deceased's wishes.