Saturday 28 April 2012

DAREBIN PARKLANDS

The Darebin Parklands straddle Alphington and Ivanhoe, approximately 10 kilometres northeast of the City of Melbourne, and they are a district park covering an area of 33 hectares. Darebin Creek flows through the Parklands, to join the Yarra River, at Alphington. The Darebin Parklands are highly regarded for its social, recreation, education, conservation, water quality management, cultural and heritage values.

The Parklands have a rich history as the homeland of the Wurundjeri Willam people and for cattle and sheep grazing, orchard and market garden use post European settlement. The southern section of the Darebin Parklands was developed as a bluestone quarry in 1890 and following the closure of the quarry in 1965, the land was leased to the Northcote Council as a municipal garbage tip which reached its capacity by 1975.

In the 1970’s the site was marked as a potential freeway or an area for industrial or residential development. Following this classification, local residents moved to protect the area and in 1973, formed the Rockbeare Park Conservation Group. The group pushed for the acquisition of land on the Alphington side and in 1975 the Whitlam Government funded the purchase of land for the park. A management committee was formed which included both adjoining Councils and community representatives. In 2001, the Darebin Parklands Committee of Management joined the Darebin Creek Co- ordinating Committee to form the Darebin Creek Management Committee. The Darebin Parkland’s rich history has contributed greatly to it being such a special and highly valued place today.

These Parklands are within walking distance of our house and we often go there to enjoy a piece of nature right in the middle of the City.

This post is part of James' Weekend Reflections meme.




12 comments:

  1. Great shots from a beautiful place.
    Love the reflection in the second.
    Wish you a wonderful day.
    Greetings Mette

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful place! Areas such as this are exactly why we love to go to the mountains and spend a few days there wandering with our cameras. So peaceful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice water reflections. I love that first shot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hej Nick.
    Flotte billeder du viser.
    Jeg skriver på dansk, da jeg ikke kan finde ud af at bruge translate på min I-pad.
    Ønsker dig en god week-end.
    Knus Hanne Bente

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful place to be! You live in a wunderful surrounding!
    Regards from Holland,
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gorgeous captures of a gorgeous place! And how wonderful to have it within walking distance, Nick! Hope your weekend is going well1 Enjoy!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow, i hope this part of nature won't be a future freeway or whatever...i am glad it didn't. :D and you're lucky to be just near this piece of beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Nick,
    You are lucky to have such a great place near your house. Have a happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love places like this. Nature parks in the middle of the city always make me feel like I've escaped for a mini-vacation -- all cities should have these spots!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You're so fortunate to have this wonderful park virtually at your door-step ..... A great place to walk.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Isn't Melbourne so verdant and green this time of year? Great shots Nick.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful! It looks like the countryside.

    ReplyDelete

Feel free to comment, I'd really like to hear from you!
Please do not use this comment box to advertise your goods and services!