Drouin - Civic Park & Recreation Reserve Tree Walk - West & South Gippsland

Drouin - Civic Park & Recreation Reserve Tree Walk

This 2.8km walk is along footpaths, grassy verges and a short distance of rough uneven ground. One long set of steps and one short uphill section. The walk showcases a variety of planted trees and some old eucalypt giants.

Civic Park & Recreation Reserve Tree Map

1. Start at the entrance to the Baw Baw Shire Civic Centre in Brynwood Ave. The seven tall Spotted Gums were planted in the 1970s and1980s by the Buln Buln Shire. Trees grow well in Drouin due to the high rainfall and fertile soil. Walk to the Council entrance and follow the path around to the left.

2. Follow the path and cross to the set of steps in the rock wall. These walls were constructed by local aboriginal workers under a government training scheme in1974. The young men worked with hatchets to chip the rocks to make them fit snugly into each other creating the incredible walls you see today. Leo Boeyen, Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, was the visionary of the project.

3. The beautiful Golden Elm beside the steps was planted at the time of the rock wall construction.

4. Continue up the steps and path towards the top. On your left is a cedar tree Cedrus atlantica, or more commonly 'The Christmas Tree'. It used to be decorated with lights at Christmas time by the Buln Buln Shire.

5. Continue to the top of the steps to Young St. As you stand looking either way along Young St, notice the row of 35 Pin Oaks planted down the centre median strip. Take note of those which are not pruned compared to those which have been cut for power lines... there?s a big difference.

6. Turn right and walk west along Young St. There is no path on this north side so walk on the grass.

7. At the pedestrian crossing, at the bottom of the hill, you will be able to cross safely to the other side of the road. Keep walking up the hill in Young St.

8. Turn right into Sinclair St. The trees you will pass at this end of Sinclair St are Lilly Pillys. Four are mature trees about 70 years old. In summer they have white-greenish flowers followed by long lasting pink berries.

9. Walk up to and enter the Recreation Reserve on the shared roadway. This is home of the Drouin football, netball and badminton clubs.

10. Turn left just after the badminton clubrooms and look for a lane between buildings with the sporting heroes of Drouin on the wall. This leads to the netball courts. Walk across the netball courts to the playground area.

11. Hiding here on the east side of the playground is a most unusual tree: a Horse Chestnut or Aesculus hippocastanum. Thought to be about 45 years old, this tree has spectacular flowers and 'conkers'. It may be the only one in Baw Baw!

12. Take time to look at the old oak tree in the far left (NW) corner behind the guide hall: 20 m high and 20 m spread of canopy and used by many birds for shelter.

13. Walk along the back of the set of flats and turn left down the path. Stop and look up. This is the 'Victoria Road Giant', a remnant Mountain Grey Gum with a trunk girth of 6 m which has towered over this land long before European settlement.

14. Turn right and walk on the grassy verge alongside Victoria St. You?re wondering? Yes, Victoria Rd was the original name and over time became Victoria St.

15. There are many remnant trees along this road, some inside the fence, some outside. One triple trunked Mountain Grey Gum giant opposite Alcorn St, has a trunk circumference of 7.2 m. All these trees provide valuable habitat for insects, birds etc.

16. Walk through the narrow gate and walk uphill on the rough formed track to the football oval.

17. At the top of the embankment turn right at the old oak tree. Walk around the oval taking time to look into the tree canopies. What birds can you see and hear?

18. Take the path down into Civic Park. Make time to look over the park and appreciate the splendid views of the town.

19. Take time to notice the old giant Messmate 'Grandfather', overlooking the park, up the hill on the left of the main path.

20. Walk down the winding 'snake' path to The K.A. Pretty Soundshell, named in honour of Keith Pretty, Shire Secretary of the Buln Buln Shire for almost 40 years. The Sound Shell, finished in 1995, was a joint venture between the Drouin Rotary Club and the Buln Buln Shire.

21. The L.G. Boeyen Gardens are on the right, below the rotunda. Leo Boeyen was Superintendent of Parks and Gardens for the Buln Buln Shire for 27 years. He designed and developed Civic Park and this little garden area was planted by him to reflect a native bushland stream. Council won a Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation Award for Civic Park in 1980 due to Leo's vision. Sadly in 2016 this garden was 'redeveloped'.

22. Continue along the footpath back towards the playground. Take the right fork in the path before the Jack Cuthbertson Memorial, erected in 2015. This leads you back to Brynwood Ave and up to the start of the walk.