The drive to Wellington Dam takes about 30 minutes from Collie. You turn off Wellington Dam Road in Worsley. The forest is on the same road as the camping grounds and the Wellington Dam mural. When you arrive, you see rows of trees in different stages of growth. Some are young. Others are well established.
Peta Bilston, the Chief Forest Officer, meets visitors at the entrance of Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest. She manages the forest and oversees every tree planting. She invites you to walk with her through the memorial forest.
It’s quiet here. The forest doesn’t look like a cemetery with rows of headstones. It looks like an actual forest. You walk on paths between the trees. The ground is soft with grass and leaves.
Peta stops at different trees and tells you what you’re seeing. Each tree represents someone who died. Their ashes were treated and mixed into the soil when the tree was planted. That person is now part of the tree’s growth.
She shows you trees planted at different times. You can see how they’ve grown over months or years. Some families come back regularly. Others come once or twice a year. You can visit whenever you want.
This is the only memorial forest in WA where you can leave a legacy by helping the environment and have your loved ones visit in a beautiful southwest forest. The location matters. Wellington Dam isn’t just empty land. The forest already existed here. It has meaning to people in the area.
Peta explains the technical part during the walk. Cremated ashes can’t just go around a tree. They’re too alkaline and have too much salt. They would kill the tree.
Living Legacy treats the ashes first. They adjust the pH and reduce the salt. This turns the ashes into nutrients that trees can use.
Your loved one’s ashes become part of the tree as it grows. The treated ashes have calcium, phosphorus, and minerals. These nutrients go from the roots up into the trunk, branches, and leaves.
Peta doesn’t use complicated words. She shows you the soil around memorial trees. You can see how healthy it is by looking at how well the trees grow.
After the walk, there’s morning tea. You sit with Peta and the legacy planning team. Sometimes other families are visiting too.
This is where you can ask anything. How much does it cost? How long does it take? Can you pick the type of tree? What if you live too far away to visit much? The staff answers everything directly.
Some people are planning ahead for themselves. Others have ashes sitting at home in an urn and don’t know what to do with them. The team explains the different packages available and helps you understand your options.
You hear from families who already planted trees here. They talk about having a place to visit. About their kids or grandkids being able to come here. About the tree being part of family time, not just something sad.
People are honest here. They talk about grief. About that urn on the shelf that makes them uncomfortable. About not wanting a cemetery. Nobody rushes you.
By the end of the visit, you can see what sets memorial trees apart from other options.
Traditional cemetery burial gives you a headstone on a grave. You have a permanent place to visit, but you’re looking at stone in the ground. The person isn’t there anymore. It’s just a marker.
Scattering ashes somewhere meaningful sounds nice, but once you scatter them, they’re gone. There’s no specific place to return to. You might remember the general area, but there’s nothing there to visit.
Memorial trees give you something different. The tree is alive and growing in a permanent location. Your loved one’s ashes are actually inside the tree, feeding it as it grows. When you visit, you’re not just looking at a memorial. You’re spending time with a living tree that your person became part of.
The tree grows taller each year. It changes with the seasons. It provides shade and habitat for birds. Your family can sit under it, walk around it, bring kids and grandkids to see it. It’s a place you actually want to spend time, not just a place you feel like you should visit out of obligation.
Peta says it clearly: “We believe that every life leaves a mark, and through our living memorial forests, we turn memories into lasting legacies that nurture the Earth.”
That’s what Wellington Dam offers. Trees that will be here for your grandchildren. A forest that gets stronger as more memorial trees get added. A place that feels peaceful instead of sad.
Living Legacy is helping families create meaningful memorials while shaping a greener future. You’re connecting with nature, the mission, and a growing community.
Living Legacy hosts regular Open Days where you can experience the forest firsthand. The next one is Saturday, December 13th, 2025.
There are two sessions:
Each session includes a guided tour through the memorial forest, morning tea, and Q&A with the staff. You’ll learn how to create your own living legacy and discover how Living Legacy is shaping a greener future.
The event is free but space is limited. They keep group sizes small to make sure everyone gets a personal and meaningful experience. You need to register in advance.
If you book a memorial location on the day, you get a free pet ashes infusion included. This is normally worth $550. Many families want their pets with them, so this saves you money if you’re ready to reserve your spot. Terms and conditions apply.
Locations are limited in the forest. Once spots fill up, you’ll need to wait for future expansion. If you’re thinking about pre-planning, it makes sense to reserve your spot while you can still pick where you want to be.
You don’t have to wait for an Open Day. Living Legacy does private tours all year.
Call Peta Bilston to set up a time. She’ll walk you through the forest, explain how it works, and answer questions. Private tours work well if you want more one-on-one time or if the Open Day dates don’t fit your schedule.
If you have ashes at home and want to do this now, Peta will explain what happens next. It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from start to finish.
The forest is here. The trees are growing. You can see it and decide if it’s right for you.
Register for December 13th Open Day Visit the Eventbrite page to register (spaces are limited)
Schedule a Private Visit Contact: Peta Bilston, Chief Forest Officer
Phone: 0427 096 944
Email: cfo@legacyforest.org.au
Website: livinglegacywellingtondam.org.au
Location: Living Legacy, Wellington Dam Forest 1 Wellington Dam Road Worsley, WA 6225
