A long-standing push for a national cemetery to be built in Canberra has gained new momentum.

The Victorian branch of the RSL wants a cemetery built on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, which - subject to family approval - would be used for soldiers killed in action, Victoria Cross winners, former governors-general and former prime ministers.

It will ask other state and territory branches to support the idea at the RSL's national executive next week.

RSL ACT branch president John King says it would be similar to the Arlington Cemetery in Washington in the United States.

"At the moment all of our noted distinguished VCs, governors-general, prime minsters are all scattered throughout Australia and indeed some are even overseas," he said.

"There's no central place for members of the Defence Force who've been killed in action to be in one place where the public can actually visit them."

Mr King says it would complement, rather than compete with, the Australian War Memorial.

"You look at people going to cemeteries every day to place flowers and other ornaments on graves. I would expect that there would be a great deal of public interest in visiting graves of famous people like that," he said.

Source: ABC News