Arts, Artists and Ancient Trees Walk (Bulleen)
An enjoyable, easy walk for lovers of art and local history. Points of interest include the 'Heidelberg School Artists Trail' and the 'Heidelberg Heritage Trail'. Heide Museum of Modern Art has three galleries, a sculpture park and an historic Kitchen Garden.
The walk is 5 km long and is full of surprises. You begin by following the winding Yarra River past ancient River Red Gums, impressive Oaks and remnant fruit trees. There is interpretation signage that highlights local historic points of interest and the artists of the Heidelberg School art period. The walk then takes you into the gardens of Heide Park and Gallery. Here there are fragrant bushes, pavilions, a kitchen garden, sculptures and art galleries. Both parks offer picturesque picnic areas and Banksia Park has a fenced off-leash area for dogs.
Banksia Park is locked at 6.00 pm; Heide at 5.00 pm and closed on Mondays.
Facilities include toilets, barbecue, picnic shelter, playground and cafe.
Map of Route
Route Description
Commence the walk at the billabong that is situated close to the playground. The Artists Trail begins here featuring members of the Heidelberg School, a group of celebrated Australian artists whose work depicted many scenes painted in the region in the late 1800s. The sign here is about Tom Roberts' painting titled, 'Quiet Stream, Heidelberg'.
Walk back towards the roundabout and turn right.
1. Look towards the hillside in front of you and you will see a dramatic black steel sculpture which slices through the landscape. This is 'Helmet', a sculpture by Tanya Court and Cassandra Chilton which is influenced by Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series. It forms the visual east-west gateway between the cities of Manningham and Banyule.
Your walk follows the sealed path to the left of the toilet block.
2. Here begins the magnificent riverine floodplains that feature throughout this walk. River Red Gums, Eucalyptus camaldulensis are a dramatic eucalypt that can be found along rivers in the greater city of Manningham. These large ancient trees are more than 200 years old and thrive on seasonal flooding.
3. River Red Gums are virtual apartment blocks for wildlife offering hotly contested hollows used as nesting sites by possums, gliders and parrots. Other old trees that exist in the park include oaks, poplars and fruit trees, all reminders of orchard settlement here more than 100 years ago.
The area ahead floods and can make the sealed path slippery. Take care.
4. The Banksia Park path follows the serpentine contours of the Yarra River, so from the air the path walk looks like two giant kangaroo ears. Although you are now within site of the way home, resist and keep walking, there is much more to see.
The path now shares the road but becomes walking track again soon.
5. Here the Artists Trail features Charles Condor's painting of 'The Yarra Heidelberg: Boys Bathing 1890'. Both the beauty of the Yarra River and the surrounding landscape were common themes in his work.
Stay on this side of the track for the next Artist Trail sign.
6. Artists Trail sign - Arthur Streeton, 'Spring' 1890. You can see by the image that this area was once cleared for grazing. Much of the sandy bathing places have disappeared as the river has reclaimed the banks.
7. Here is doggy heaven, a fully fenced dog run filled with the scents of other dogs and nocturnal wildlife. The walk surrounds an old Cherry Grove that was planted after a visit by the Prime Minister of Japan.
The walk takes you around the perimeter of the dog run and not inside it.
8. You are now entering the grounds of Heide Museum of Modern Art. Turn left to walk through the woodlands planted by John and Sunday Reed, the founding benefactors of Heide. In spring this area is covered with flowering bulbs and violets.
You'll come to another fork in the path, turn left again and follow a small trail to the Yarra River.
9. This is an ideal resting place and a seat is provided. Remember the painting by Streeton depicting open fields next to the river? This is the place it was representing although the area has altered significantly with time. The Reeds enjoyed swimming here.
Return to the main path and veer left until you come to open land on your left.
10. Hard to miss these life-size cow sculptures by Jeff Thompson. These playful forms interpret the dairy farming heritage and are located where the self-sufficient Reeds kept their cows.
11. The award-winning pavilion was an inspirational design by Greg Burgess. It almost takes to the air with its wing like extensions. The pavilion sits by the rose walk and kitchen garden. Both were established by Sunday Reed and still delight young and old today.
12. Heide II was the Reeds' second home. It was designed by architects McGlashan and Everist and was built in 1967. The building is now one of the three gallery spaces at Heide. There is an entrance fee which provides entry into all three galleries. At Cafe Vue you can stop for refreshments or continue to Heide III.
On the way to Heide II stop at the top car park.
13. Right next to the car park to your left is an old Aboriginal scar tree. You will need to walk around it to the other side - with your back to the carpark - to see the scar. The traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri, had remarkable ways of creating tools without destroying the landscape. A large piece of woodybark was removed without damaging the inner core of the trunk allowing the tree to survive. It was then fashioned into a canoe or shield.
14. The glorious gardens surrounding Heide I provide a beautiful backdrop to the gallery space. Heide I was originally a dairy homestead which was purchased by the Reeds in 1934. The garden features a large oak tree, an Osage Orange grove and an orchard.
To return to your starting point, retrace your steps to the Tony and Cathie Hancy Sculpture Plaza. A walking track takes you back into Banksia Park. Ensure you return before close of gates at 6.00 pm.
This finishes your walk. Cafe Vue sells picnic boxes, coffee and other more substantial dishes flavoured from the kitchen garden.
Time to relax and plan your next adventure.
Location
3 Templestowe Road, Bulleen 3105 Map
Web Links
→ Arts Artists and Ancient Trees Guide and Map (PDF)
