Currawong Bush Park (Doncaster East)
.jpg "Currawong Bush Park (Doncaster East)")
This is a great place for kids to explore and immerse themselves in the outside world.
Discover the sculptures dotted around the trails in the bush. Landscapers, sculptors and artists have helped create a natural play space for kids to explore at Currawong Bush Park. Can you spot the kangaroo? Play in the woven cubby, curl up in the giant nest or count the ants the echidna is about to eat.
See if you can spot the native birds, lizards and frogs on your adventure, or maybe you will be lucky enough to catch sight of a wombat or koala.
Stay for a bite to eat and enjoy a picnic in the bush, or cook up a feast using the onsite barbecue.
There are many tracks around the park to explore on foot. Our self-guided walks will familiarise you with different areas such as the scar tree and the billabong:
- All Manna of Gums Walking Guide - Takes you along the Mullum Mullum Creek via the Mullum Mullum Trail and Currawong Bush Park
- Currawong Bush Park Walks are a series of eight walks, each focusing on different aspects of the reserve. All of these walks start and finish at Currawong bush Park. Downloading the audio guides will enhance your Currawong experience.
- Mullum Mullum Trail is popular with nature loving cyclists and walkers. The trail runs on the other side of the Mullum Mullum Creek and is connected to Currawong Bush Park with a pedestrian bridge just north of Reynolds Road.
Walk to the park and enjoy the surroundings. Cross the pedestrian bridge near the Mullum Mullum Trail north of Reynolds Road. This track forms part of a 4.5 kilometre circuit walk through the park or for a shortcut, take the driveway to the central area.
Take the bike and use the pedestrian bridge from the Mullum Mullum Trail and the vehicle track from Arnold Drive. To protect the park and animals that live here, you can only use bikes on vehicle tracks.
History of the Park
by 1931 - Agriculture and orchards are well established in the area. However, Currawong has not been cleared due to its steep slopes and rocky soils.
1941 - Francis Fitzgerald, an orchardist, owns most of the land now known as Currawong Bush Park. Rates for the 12.5 hectares are 10 pounds ($20).
1957 - Robert Elder, a solicitor, buys the property. The rate valuation has increased to 31 pounds ($62).
1959 - The Elders build their large family home. Now the Rangers Office and Conference Room, the building is of State historical and architectural significance as a rare and intact early example of the work of internationally recognised Australian architect, Kevin Borland.
Opening Hours:
The park is closed on total fire bans days.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs and horses are not allowed at Currawong Bush Park because it is a protected habitat.
Review:
Currawong Bush Park is a hidden gem where you can enjoy a slice of bush with many native birds and art sculptures and get close to lots of kangaroos. At the end of the road which enters from Reynolds Road is a car park. Above the car park is an area with tables, BBQs and toilets.
The Mullum Mullum Trail runs along the side of the park and can be easily reached from the car park.
Near the car park is The Stockyard which has wooden animal sculptures and an area where kids have built cubbies from fallen tree branches. The stockyard tells an interesting story of the resilience of nature. Once this was a dusty, cattle enclosure. Now, nature is reclaiming what's hers.
In the wildlife Sanctuary area of the park we saw about 25 kangaroos and wallabies grazing early in the morning. Note: Please do not hand feed or pat the animals, they are neither tame or pets.
Other things to check out are Millers Pond which has a jetty on the side and the Wurundjeri Scarred Tree.
There are plenty of tracks but beware of snakes during warm weather.
Photos:
Location
269 Reynolds Road, Doncaster East 3109 Map
Web Links
→ Currawong Bush Park Walks
→ www.manningham.vic.gov.au/currawong-bush-park
