Opened as a modern cemetery in 1961, the park features floral landscaped lawns and extensive memorial gardens, differing from the traditional monumental cemetery and creating a haven in the otherwise industrial west of Melbourne. Altona Memorial Park also features a recently refurbished crematorium and two chapels in addition to function facilities. Today it provides burial and cremation services for a broad cross-section of Melbourne’s multicultural communities while also mirroring the working class history of Melbourne’s west, even playing host to the grave of 'Mr. Football', Ted Whitten. Altona Memorial Park operates as the regional office for GMCT’s western suburbs cemeteries.