Rotating Headlines from this Weblog! Click to view Post!

Rotating Headlines

Join this Weblog!

To become a Follower of this Weblog.
Click on the "Follow" link, underneath the list of current followers. You will be taken to an information panel where you may enter your personal details and other information. When completed, the title of this Weblog will appear in the Reading List on your Blogger Dashboard, and your Profile Picture will be displayed next to other Followers!

Followers to my Weblog!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Scenic Blackburn Lake Sanctuary




Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is a 26 hectare area of bushland 17 km east of Melbourne.

The Lake is the main feature of this Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was originally an open area of eucalypts and grasslands, sloping down to a creek. The Aboriginal Wurundjerui people are thought to have used the area for food collection and camping by the creek.

In the 1850s, the Crown first disposed of land in the district.

In 1888 the creek was dammed to form the Blackburn Lake. Later, the Victorian Deaf Society residential home and farm were located on the site, near the current Visitor Centre.

The Society cleared the land of native vegetation and for many years operated a successful flower farm.

In 1965, Blackburn lake was declared a "Sanctuary".

In 1980, the area was acquired by the City of Nunawading.

The Sanctuarynow belongs to the Community.

Bushfires destroyed 8 ha in 1994 and 4 ha in 1997.

Most of the native trees around the picnic area have been planted in the past 20 years. Once a vista of open fields of flowers and an orchard, the area is now a haven for numerous species of birds, possums and harmless little green spiders. Most of the fish in the Lake are carp - fishing is not permitted. Frogs, ducks, moorhens and coots live in the Lake.

Features in the Santuary include the Flower Farm, Friends' Bridge, Duck Point, the Lake, Apple Tree Track, Boardwalk, Heron Point and Eucalyptus Track.

I explored this interesting Sanctuary on October 28, 2007.

My pictures of the trip are at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary

No comments:

Post a Comment