Losing someone we love is one of the hardest things we will ever go through, and when that happens it’s natural to want to respect their wishes when it comes to their final resting place. Wanting to do the ‘right’ thing is something that can weigh so heavily on your mind. We are here to help!

In Australia, many people choose to cremate their loved ones body after they die, and a large percentage of those families wish to scatter their loved ones ashes in a place that was memorable or significant for the person they have lost.

While it can be difficult to know what you can and can’t do with your loved ones ashes, the good news is that in Queensland, the rules aren’t overly complicated.

The law about scattering human ashes in Queensland – Do you need permission?

In Queensland, you generally can scatter the ashes of your love one and hold a small, private ceremony without the need to obtain permits to do so. If the scattering is to take place on private land, then you must have the land owners permission to do so, however if you are the land owner then you are free to do as you wish. For example, if your loved one stated that they wanted their ashes to be scattered on the field at Suncorp Stadium or the cattle property they grew up on that is no longer owned by the family, then you’d need to seek permission from the owner of the land to do so otherwise you risk breaching trespassing laws.

You generally do not need permission to scatter ashes on local council or state controlled land.

You need to apply for a permit to scatter ashes if the land is:

– Privately owned (see previous comments)

– Bushland or rainforest that has been designated as a Commonwealth Reserve

– Commonwealth marine areas

We advise that you always research the area where you are planning to scatter the ashes of your loved one. This can avoid ruining the day with run ins with officials or incurring fines.

It’s worth noting that parks run by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service do not require a permit for ashes to be scattered, and while you generally can scatter ashes into the ocean, if you’re doing so off a boat then you are required to have the boat owner’s permission to do so.

Where do we scatter the ashes?

If your loved one hasn’t specified where their ashes should be scattered and you don’t wish to keep them, here are some ideas for where you may wish you consider as locations for your scattering ceremony. It’s wise to put some thought into the chosen location – choose somewhere that had meaning for the loved one you have lost if you are able to do so.

If you’re feeling stuck for where to scatter your loved one’s ashes, take a moment to quietly reflect on what they were like and enjoyed. Was there a place that was particularly special to them? What did they like doing? What were their personal values? Was there something they were really passionate about in your life?

Another thing to consider is accessibility; think about how easy it will be for friends and family to get to the site you choose to scatter your loved ones ashes.

Some examples of popular places to scatter ashes include:

Parks
Wetlands
Their home town
Your own back yard
Under a tree you plant in their memory
By the water
Near another family member’s resting place

Have you scattered ashes before? What would you add based on your personal experience? Would you like to have your ashes scattered somewhere special to you? Let us know what you think!