Funeral Cost Information

Many people don't realise that in Queensland there is no licensing or regulation determining education, training, experience or facility standards necessary to provide funeral service. Unfortunately, this means that standards among funeral service providers will vary significantly.

Grief professionals across Australia continue to recognise Burstows for excellence in service, facilities and training within the funeral industry, a standard you, your family and friends will appreciate at one of life's most difficult times.

Burstows has been awarded with one of the highest honours in the industry - membership in the internationally recognised association, Selected Independent Funeral Homes (SIFH). We are proud to be one of only two Queensland companies to be awarded membership, particularly as admission to SIFH is by invitation only.

We are proud to promote absolute transparency in all we do and you are welcome to inspect any part of our facility or seek further clarification on any service we provide.

The information in the PDF is intended to provide you with an approximate price guide to a range of service combinations that are frequently chosen. These service combination examples include cremation fees. If burial is preferred please allow an additional $2665 approx.

In conjunction with the information on the PDF, please read the section below which presents guidance on a range of things that influence funeral costs.

Click here to understand more about our Funeral Costs

So what things influence cost?

Whether the funeral involves a cremation or a burial.
If it is a burial, whether a plot has been pre purchased.
Sometimes additional travel is required.
The choice of coffin in terms of materials used and the extent of workmanship.
The extent of professional mortuary care required or requested.
The extent of floral tributes.
The length, style and number of death and funeral notices placed in newspapers.

Charges made by celebrants, clergy or organists.
The extent of catering for post-funeral gatherings.
The quality of Funeral Director facilities including things like hearses, mortuary, chapel and viewing facilities.
The provision of additional personnel to manage extraordinary needs e.g. very large gatherings
Services held on a weekend or public holiday.
Remember – every funeral is unique. The funeral cost will represent the services and resources required to meet your specific needs and requests.

Each service scenario on our funeral prices page includes a professional service fee.
Here is a further explanation of how our service fee is calculated;

Professional Service Fee – Ranges from $2800 - $6590

Further information on the inclusions in this fee:

In the spirit of transparency and a desire to ensure you are well informed, a further explanation about our professional service fee is provided below. For most funerals in our care, our professional service fee is made up of 5 components discussed below. In circumstances where we are honouring a request for no ceremony or gathering (i.e. an unattended cremation), the professional service fee will only include components 1, 2 & 3.

1. Burstows expertise, skill, care and attention, and necessary overhead costs: ($2055) This component includes but is not limited to consultation with the family; administrative, co-ordination and clerical services; preparation and lodgement of the registration of the death; a proportionate cost share for the provision and maintenance of necessary premises and equipment; maintenance of purpose built specialty vehicles e.g. mortuary transfer vehicle and hearse; compliance with current workplace health and safety requirements; ongoing training and development of our staff; telephone, electricity, gas, rates, taxes and insurances; workers compensation, compulsory superannuation; and andby and penalty rates for the availability of a 24 hour workforce.

2. Mortuary transfer vehicle & staff: ($500) To manage the local transfer of the deceased into our care at any hour of any day. Please note that should we be engaged for ‘transfer only’ services, an additional fee of $400 will apply, for the safe keeping of the deceased for the requested duration, in our mortuary care centre.

3. All necessary preparation, care and safe keeping of the deceased for the requested duration, in our purpose-built Mortuary Care Centre: (Ranges from $495 - $880) depending on level of professional care required or requested.

4. Facilitating Funeral Ceremony: As an average $2250, however this fee can range from $765 - $3595. This component of the professional service fee is based on the provision of funeral personnel required for the organisation and facilitation of viewings, ceremony and/or gatherings at the chosen location and where applicable, a proportionate cost share of the Burstows facility and resources when used as a venue or gathering place.

5. Local use of Hearse as required or requested – ($250)

Costs outside of professional service fee;

Printed Service Booklets
Catering Services
Cemetery equipment
Travel beyond 50 kms
Coffin/casket as selected
Payments on client’s behalf: e.g. cemetery or cremation fees, flowers, funeral notices, clergy, celebrant & musician fees, audio visual hire for external venues, third party venue fees, certified copy of death certificate
After hour fees for ceremonies held at night, on public holidays or on weekends.

Please also note that our service fee includes GST of 10%

Would you like an accurate cost proposal?

The very best way to make an informed decision about the combination of services that is right for you, and obtain an accurate cost proposal, is by meeting with a Funeral Director who will listen, explore your options and explain the detail without obligation.

Burial or Cremation

The wishes of the deceased are followed, if they are known. A cremation cannot take place if there are written instructions to the contrary. Cremation is sometimes chosen as a lower-cost option, especially in metropolitan areas, where cemetery fees are very high.

Contact Us

In the event of a death in the family, contact Burstows without delay. A funeral director is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will provide help and guidance from the first contact.

Call us now

Toowoomba Head Office
1020 Ruthven St Toowoomba, QLD 4350
Phone: (07) 4636 9600 / Fax: (07) 4636 9650