Aughtie Drive Adventure Playground, Albert Park

Next to Grand Prix grandstands. A playground to race to (keeping to the speed limit of course!) Ticketed parking. Huge wooden fort style playground with lots of places to explore. Plenty of swings, slides, tunnels and various walkways and bridges. Sheltered BBQ and tables. Some shaded tables and seats under the trees. Toilets. Most of the playground is covered in shade sails.

There is a outdoor gym circuit around the lake.

How Did This Playground Come to Be?

The Albert Park Community Playground exists because community spirit is alive in the 1990s. The playground was built by volunteers over five consecutive days finishing on Sunday 9th May 1993. Volunteers came from South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and St Kilda, with others coming from all over Melbourne. Each volunteer worked one or more 5 hour shifts. The working day began at 7am and finished at 10pm. In all, over 3000 men, women and children participated in the construction.

People of all ages worked in a variety of jobs. Those who worked on construction, sawed, sanded, painted, shaped and nailed the timber. Men and women with wheelbarrows moved wood shavings and strode to where others raked it into place. Local school children worked nearby scrubbing and sealing tyres, sanding wood and soaping screws as their playground grew before their eyes.

The thousands of tools used in construction were lent by local people and tool suppliers. Some materials used were donated by companies. Larger items were purchased with donated money.

All workers received meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner time, cooked and served by those assigned to catering. All food was donated by local families, restaurants and traders. Others cared for volunteer's children at nearby schools and kindergartens.

For the 3 years preceding construction a committee raised the money required, negotiated for the site, involved local children in playground design and promotion, publicised the project, sourced the tools and materials required, obtained commitments from volunteers and organised food and childcare.

If you participated, we know you will agree with our slogan of "Community Built Playgrounds Help Build Communities", Enjoy your playground!

Aughtie Drive Adventure Playground, Albert Park

How Did This Playground Come to Be?

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