When someone passes away, one of the first questions families ask is, “Where is the body taken?” The answer often leads to an important but little-understood part of the funeral process: the mortuary.
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This article explains what a mortuary is, how it fits into the funeral care journey, and what families need to know about funeral homes, transfers, and the role eziFunerals can play in helping you through it all.
🏥 What Is a Mortuary?
A mortuary (also called a morgue) is a facility where deceased individuals are temporarily housed after death. It serves several important purposes:
- Body storage before a funeral service
- Body preparation, such as embalming, dressing, and cosmetic care
- Autopsy or coronial investigations, if required
Mortuaries may be found in:
- Hospitals (public and private)
- Funeral homes (with their own facilities)
- Private mortuary providers
- Coroner’s courts (for unexpected or reportable deaths)
⚰️ Where Is the Body Taken After Death?
The answer depends on where the person passed away:
If the death occurs at:
- Home or aged care: The body is usually transferred to a funeral home’s mortuary or a hospital mortuary.
- Hospital: The hospital will usually transfer the deceased to its own mortuary temporarily, then release the body to a funeral director.
- Public place or accident: The Coroner may take jurisdiction. The deceased is moved to the State Coroner’s mortuary for further examination.
Funeral directors coordinate with families to arrange collection, transport, and care of the deceased. eziFunerals helps connect families with professionals who operate with dignity, respect, and transparency.
🏛️ Do Funeral Homes Have Their Own Mortuaries?
Some do, and some don’t.
Yes — many funeral homes operate:
- On-site mortuary facilities, where they store and prepare bodies
- Refrigerated storage for respectful preservation
- Embalming rooms if the family requests this service
No — in other cases:
- Funeral homes may subcontract to third-party mortuaries
- Small or budget providers may use shared facilities, often without disclosure
⚠️ Important: Not all funeral homes are transparent about where your loved one is taken or who handles them. That’s why eziFunerals encourages families to ask:
- “Do you have your own mortuary?”
- “Who will be preparing the body?”
- “Can I inspect or learn more about your care process?”
💬 What Happens Inside a Mortuary?
Depending on the family’s wishes and the nature of the death, mortuary services may include:
- Identification and registration
- Hygienic preparation
- Embalming, if requested or required for an open-casket viewing
- Dressing and cosmetic application
- Storage in climate-controlled environments
Some religious or cultural traditions may also include body washing or rites performed before burial or cremation.
🤝 How eziFunerals Supports You
At eziFunerals, we believe families deserve to make informed decisions with confidence and compassion. That’s why we:
- Help you compare independent funeral homes across Australia
- Encourage transparency in body care and funeral handling
- Avoid sales pressure — we’re not tied to any provider
- Connect you with funeral directors who prioritise dignity and family wishes
📍 Mortuary & Funeral Services by City
We can help families find trusted funeral professionals and mortuary-linked services across Australia, including:
- Sydney: Find funeral directors with private mortuaries
- Melbourne: Compare low-cost and premium mortuary care
- Perth: Learn more about hospital vs. private mortuary options
- Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart & Darwin: Explore providers near you
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a mortuary and a funeral home?
A mortuary is a facility for storing and preparing bodies. A funeral home arranges the funeral service and may have an on-site mortuary or outsource this function.
Can I choose where the body is taken?
Yes. You can choose a funeral director and request they use a mortuary of your choosing if legal or practical.
Is embalming required in Australia?
No, embalming is not legally required in most cases. It’s optional unless the body needs to be preserved for a long period or transported interstate/internationally.
How long can a body be kept in a mortuary?
Most mortuaries can store a body for several days to weeks under refrigerated conditions. Timing depends on funeral planning, family decisions, or coroner processes.
Do all funeral directors disclose if they outsource mortuary care?
Unfortunately, no. This is why eziFunerals urges families to ask direct questions about where the body will be taken and who will care for it.
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Peter Erceg
Peter Erceg is the Founder and Owner of eziFunerals — Australia’s Independent Funeral Planning Authority. With more than 40 years of experience in government and public health, Peter has become one of the country’s leading voices on funeral transparency, consumer rights, and ethical funeral practices. Through eziFunerals, Peter has built a national platform that empowers Australian families to make informed end-of-life decisions — free from pressure, commissions, and confusion. His goal is simple: "to help every Australian plan smarter, save money, and choose funeral services with confidence." 🕊 eziFunerals was founded by Peter in 2011, as an independent funeral comparison and planning platform that allows consumers to: • Compare local funeral directors and transparent quotes, • Understand real funeral costs across Australia, and • Connect with trusted, independent funeral homes that uphold the Fair Funeral Promise. As Australia’s Independent Funeral Planning Authority, eziFunerals is recognised by media, consumers, and funeral professionals for its leadership in price transparency and consumer protection. “We believe every family deserves a fair, dignified, and affordable farewell — without hidden fees or sales pressure.” 📘 Peter is the author of What Kind of Funeral: A Self-Help Guide to Planning a Meaningful Funeral, a practical guide that has helped thousands of Australians understand their options and avoid unnecessary costs. He regularly contributes articles and commentary on: • Funeral cost transparency and industry reform, • Prepaid funerals and consumer protection, • Emerging trends in eco-friendly and digital memorials, and • The role of AI and technology in end-of-life planning. 🎙 Peter and eziFunerals have been featured in major Australian media outlets including ABC News. His insights continue to shape the national conversation on funeral costs, consumer rights, and ethical practices in the funeral industry. ⚖️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Peter Erceg are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of eziFunerals or its members. The information provided on this site is general in nature and should not be taken as personal, legal, or financial advice. Consumers are encouraged to conduct their own research and compare funeral services that best meet their needs and circumstances.