Plaza of Holy Angels Mausoleum

The Plaza or Piazza of Holy Angels Mausoleum completed in late 2021 is the fifth stage of the Holy Angels Mausoleum complex development at Fawkner Memorial Park. Harmer Architecture have designed the previous four stages since the first stage, built in 1997. The mausolea cater for the continuing demand for this type of burial by the Italian Community of Melbourne.

The Piazza Mausoleum provides over 1812 casket spaces arranged six high over a series of galleries, each distinguished by a unique stone colour.

The Holy Angels Mausoleum development recently completed is the largest in Australia and provides burial spaces for over eight thousand people.

The new piazza includes a new public space that gives an address to both the earlier atrium Mausoleum and the new plaza mausoleum and links the two together.

The centre point of the Piazza Mausoleum is a landscaped open space for large gatherings, the focus of which is a bronze statue of the Holy Mother crafted by Melbourne sculptor Darien Pullen.

The central theme of the design is the role of Women in nurturing and caring for others as exemplified by the Holy Mother and also 18 female saints who throughout history who have dedicated their lives to serving the poor, the sick and those who suffered. Each row of crypts is named after one of these women.

The mausoleum features custom made folded stainless steel cladding to complement the adjacent fourth stage Atrium of Holy Angels mausoleum completed by Harmer Architecture.

Materials such as autumn blend special profile bricks, timber ceilings and coloured glass panels suspended within skylight shafts, along with seating and landscaping makes the mausoleum an inspiring and comforting place to visit.

Mausoleums are active public spaces and continue to serve large numbers of people who visit their relatives on a regular basis and gather together for interment ceremonies.

Images by Trevor Mein