"I was due to give birth any day when I went to the doctors for a check-up. The doctor didn't tell me, but he couldn't hear a heartbeat and sent me to have a scan. It was then I was told.

Apparently Hannah passed away about three days before she was to come into the world.

"It was a shock and my whole world caved in.

"I had to organise a funeral, and rather than have her buried in a mass grave, we chose to give her a private funeral and chose Springvale cemetery.

A life-sized carousel, designed by Jenny Steiner, has been built to remember the babies and children buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Ms McPherson visits the cemetery regularly. "I used to come every week," she says.

"When I visit here I feel calm. Now the lawns are such a beautiful place with the carousel.

"It reminds me of my childhood and what Hannah might experience."

On Saturday Health Minister Daniel Andrews officially marked the opening of the carousel with parents, friends and guests at the children's lawn section. Balloons were released on the occasion.

Springvale Botanical Cemetery chief executive Russell Allison said the carousel would be a focal point of the children's section in the cemetery. "The concept for the memorial grew from discussions with the parents of the children buried there.

"To acknowledge that special loss associated with the death of a baby or a child."

The carousel has a stained glass star lantern in the centre of the roof structure, allowing light to dance and reflect on sculpted lily leaves.

There is a face of a sleeping child at ground level.

Inside the rotunda are spaces for memorial plaques that will bear individual messages.

Jenny Steiner said everyone who had been a part of this project in any way had been touched by it. "Personally it will stay with me for a long time."

The carousel will provide a quiet place for parents, siblings, relatives and friends visiting.