Warringal Parklands (Heidelberg)

Warringal Parklands is a large 35.50 hectare reserve bordered by the Yarra River to the south and east. It is one of many interconnected parks and reserves located along this section of the the river that provide many sport and recreational facilities for walkers, cyclists, dog owners, bird watchers and families. It has two ovals and tennis courts.

A highlight of the area for families is Possum Hollow, a large regional playground that is fenced. It has a flying fox, as well as BBQs and picnic facilities.

The park features barbecues, cricket pitch, football pitch, fitness equipment, oval, play equipment, public toilets, walking/bike trails and wildlife observation.

History

In 1853, Joseph Hawdon subdivided this area, including Sills Bend, into small blocks that were bought and used for orchards and market gardens. The Sills family bought the land in the late 1850s and it became known as Sills Bend. Between the late 1850s and 1926, Sills Bend was used as an orchard for quince, pear, mulberry, cherry and plum trees, some of which still stand today. In 1927, the land was sold to the local council for park land.

Flora and Fauna

The reserve has are 6 vegetation communities: floodplain riparian woodland, creekline grassy woodland, floodplain riparian woodland, plains grassy woodland, wetland formation and aquatic herbfield.

Beverley Road Wetland was created to remove dense weeds. It receives water from a small catchment area of nearby road run-off.

There are many river red gums, red iron barks and swamp gums growing along the Main Yarra Trail and on the Yarra River bank. They provide habitat and food for many different species.

Many native bird species use Warringal Parklands, including grey goshawks, black-shouldered kites, tawny frogmouths and whistling kites. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos are often sighted, as are wombats, wallabies, platypus, echidnas and kangaroos.