Victory Park Playground, Mostyn Street, Castlemaine
A really pleasant and interesting park which has a beautifully created play space for younger kids with Indigenous themes in the south-east corner.
There is a flying fox with disk seat, big all-abilities spinning carousel, birds nest swing, multi-level elevated circles with metal slide, stepper circuit, series of lovely seats, two cars sculpted out of wooden logs, metal drum, Waa sculpture wall and table tennis table. The area is partly covered by shade sails.
Meander through the creek bed and look for the mother yabby. Can you find her eggs? Did you know "yabby" is an Aboriginal word that has its origins in traditional languages from across Victoria?
This play space draws on the themes of peace and reconciliation and incorporates two important ancestral beings of the Dja Dja Wurrung, Bunjil in the form of a wedge-tail eagle and Waa, the crow. Look up and you will see Bunjil in the form of a wedge-tail eagle soaring above protecting those that play below. Bunjil is the creator spirit and symbolises wisdom, knowledge and power. On the shadow wall Waa is flying away from the fire. The Dreaming tells us Waa discovered fire in different Country and then brought fire to Jaara Country. Waa the crow used to be white, then the fire singed him black forever.
The park has shaded and unshaded tables, shaded BBQ, grassy area, water tap, toilets, rose gardens, lovely sculptured seat, koala sculptures near the big map at the entrance and some big artillery cannons.
There are WWI war trophies - a 100 mm K 04/14 No 759 Field Artillery, 150mm Howitzer Short Range and a 14/64 rifled muzzle loader from the Victorian warship "Nelson" next to the RSL building and other historical monuments in the park.
Across Forest Street in Western Reserve is a skate park and BMX track.
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Location
30 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine 3450 Map
