Burke Road North Reserve (Ivanhoe)

Burke Road North Reserve is a 6.5 hectare reserve which is surrounded by roads, Ivanhoe Public Golf Course and the Yarra River to the south. It has easy access to the Main Yarra Trail bike and walking track. There is a lovely 4km return walk along the Wilson Reserve Trail which starts from here.

Activities in the park include Eaglemont Tennis Club, dirt jumps track and wildlife observation. There is a simple playground near the tennis courts with BBQs, table, water tap and basketball half court.

History

Burke Road North Reserve is the land of the Wurundjeri-willam people. They had ties with other peoples and lands, and belonged to the Woiworung language group and the greater Kulin nation.

Flora and Fauna

The reserve is in the Gippsland Plain bioregion, and has 2 vegetation communities: floodplain riparian woodland-river red gum (terrace) and escarpment woodland-river red gum (sheltered). It is managed by the Banyule Bushland Management Unit.

The cherry ballart is an uncommon shrub that grows here. It needs a mutually beneficial relationship with another plant to grow, and it is difficult to propagate and replant once it is removed. Wood from this shrub was used by the Wurundjeri people to make spear throwers.

The Californian blue gum close to the tennis court is also important. It is a USA variety grown here from imported seeds or seedlings.