Chirnside Urban Park Playground, Kimberley Drive, Chirnside Park
A truly spectacular looking playground with two huge flying balloons which would make proud the Montgolfier brothers, who were pioneer developers of the hot-air balloon and who conducted the first untethered flights.
The yellow and white striped Junior balloon is tied down, ready to burst into flight. Climb up a vertical ladder which is split into lots of levels to reach the inside of the balloon where there is a jumble of ropes to climb to the very top of the inside of the balloon. Around the base of the balloon are lots of fun panel games to play while waiting to board the balloon.
The red and white striped Senior balloon has already left the ground, but you can still scramble into the basket using a rope net ladder or vertical suspended ladders. From the basket, there is a metal slide or you can climb up higher into the rope jumble inside the balloon.
Around the base of the balloons are three in-ground trampolines, spinning carousel, birds nest swing, two standard swings, percussion pipes, drums, echidna carvings, more swings and small slide with steps for toddlers.
Off to the site is the amphitheatre which has a viewing area with amphitheatre style seating servicing the lawn area that can be used as a stage for performances.
Take time to read the story about Gawarn the echidna who was a very old man who lived apart from his people seldom leaving the shelter of his gunyah (bark hut). He was too old to hunt and survived by luring young men to his camp and killing them for their flesh. When this horrifying secret was revealed, the Aboriginal men sought out Echidna and surrounding him threw spears at him until they formed a bristling mass on his back. Then they broke his arms and legs leaving them distorted and twisted. Badly hurt Echidna crawled into a hollow log and stayed there until his wounds healed.
When he finally emerged his hands and feet were changed into strong useful claws that could be used for digging and his arms and legs though terribly bent were still able to carry him. But neither he nor his wife Nunkito were able to pull the spears from his body. When you come across Echidna in the bush today, he buries himself immediately to get out of your sight for he still remembers the humiliating punishment he received for his cannibalistic crime. Other Aboriginal myths tell of the echidna's strength, saying it can lift huge flat stones In order to hide under them.
This area has three shelters with six tables in total, water tap, BBQs and toilets (with wildlife murals on the walls). The playground is built around a large pond.
Dual flying foxes (one with disk seat and one with harness seat) are located at the end of the pond.
Read about Balayang the bat who was a brother of Bundjil the wedge-tailed eagle but lived apart from him. Once, Bundjil asked him to come and live with him, but Balayang replied that Bundjil's country was too dry and that Bundjil ought to go and live with him instead. This upset Bundjil, who sent his two helpers, Djurt-djurt the nankeen kestrel and Thara the quail hawk after Balayang.
They set fire to the bat's country and Balayang and his family were scorched and permanently black. Because of his black colouring Balayang was associated with Waa the crow, and thus belonged to the moiety in opposition to Bundjil. Another story credits him with creating or finding Crow women and thus marriage partners for Bundjil. One day Balayang was amusing himself by thumping the surface of the water, causing it to thicken into mud. Something stirred underneath the mud and, probing with a branch, he found two women He called one Goonawarra ("black swan") and the other Kururuk ("brolga"). He took them to Bundjil, who gave them as wives to the men he had created.
There's a grassy area on the other side of the pond with a tiny track for bikes.
There is car parking for twenty cars next to the playground but also additional parking at Chirnside Shopping Centre located across Kimberley Drive.
There are some safety considerations when visiting with the pond not having any significant fences and the playground is located next to a busy road.
Photos:
Location
Cnr Kimberley Drive and Black Springs Road, Chirnside Park 3116 Map
