Menzies Square Play Space, Charles Street, Jeparit
A lovely area which tells the history of Sir Robert Menzies who was born in Jeparit. He served as Prime Minister from 1949 to 1966 and was Australia's longest serving Prime Minister. There are lots of information panels, some store fronts for the kids to play in (Menzies Coffee Palace) and a platform on a mound reached by stepping stones where you can give a speech to rival those of Menzies.
There is a shelter with tables and BBQ, toilets, seating, little grassy play area and lovely landscaping. Worth a stopover if you are in the area.
Some titbits of information from the boards is:
"They [parents] went to a small township with a main street and a few score houses, called by the curious name of Jeparit ... There, on 20 December 1894, I was born, my birth being ushered in by the greatest series of bank failures in the history of the State of Victoria."
"... the practice of the law in court was and remains my first love"
"I never employed a speech-writer ... I had an obstinate objection to having other people's words put in my mouth"
"Sir Robert Menzies was an avid home movie maker. Of great significance is his footage of his war time European visits, including the bombing of London and post war Berlin"
"I remember vividly the school ... It was built of wood. It stood on a little sandy rise between the township and the river. There were, in my time, about thirty pupils ... At least a dozen of the pupils walked three or four miles in from their parent's farms"
Photos:
Location
32 Lower Roy Street, Jeparit 3423 Map
