Orchard Grove Reserve Playground, Orchard Grove, Blackburn South
Quirky playground set in a huge grassy expanse dotted with trees next to the Wurundjeri Walk. The main structure has high walkways, rope bridge and rope nets. On the sides are ladders of various types, wave slide, vertical logs with climbing holds, rope traverse and scrambling wall.
The area beside it has metal poles in various shapes (you have to use your imagination here). Also log stump, rock and log steppers, hammock and swings.
Shelter with table, unshaded seats and water tap.
History - This land is the spiritual home of the Wurundjeri people and a place that provided them with nourishment and shelter. To Europeans settling here from 1860s onwards, it was a place where they would start a new life.
By 1886 orchards covered over 1000 acres of the former Shire of Nunawading, now City of Whitehorse, making it the third largest acreage of orchards in Victoria. Crops included pear, plum, apple, lemon and cherry trees. There were two particularly significant families that established orchards in this part of Blackburn South, the Wicking family and the McCracken's whose property included the land around Orchard Grove.
After the decline of the 1890s Depression, the orchard industry continued to develop. Daniel Harvey supplied orchardists with a range of equipment forged at his foundry in Box Hill and cool stores throughout the district gave opportunities to sell their produce.
The land boom following WWII finally led to the decline of the orchard industry. Rates increased and many families couldn't afford to maintain orchards, resulting in properties being subdivided for housing. Streets named in honour of the families were created in their place and old fruit trees remained in the gardens of newly built homes.
Today the traditional owners of the land and the families who cultivated it are remembered. Children ride through the reserve to nearby Orchard Grove Primary School and walk the Wurundjeri Walk. The original McCracken home, now known as 'Orchard House' is still standing on the east side of Orchard Grove, alongside St Ninian's Uniting Church.
Photos:
Location
109 Orchard Grove, Blackburn South 3130 Map
