Situated on the Plenty River, 20 km north of the Melbourne CBD, Yellow Gum Park offers spectacular views of the Plenty River and surrounding parklands.
The main feature of the park is a lake that turns a turquoise blue during certain times of the year. Prior to 1957, Yellow Gum Park was part of the historic "Clear Hill" property, which stretched from the Plenty River east to Oatland Road. These lands were predominantly used for dairy farming along with grazing and minor cropping.
As a result of severe bushfires during 1957, the Clear Hill estate was subdivided into smaller allotments. The portion now known as Yellow Gum Park was purchased by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd who quarried the area to produce materials that were used in the construction of many of Melbourne's early 'Sky Scrapers'. Quarrying operations commenced during 1959 and Boral Australia took over the site in the 1960s. The plant was closed in the early 1970s because of ground water seeping into the quarry hole. The ground water seepage has produced the lake we now see today.
Yellow Gum Park is also regarded as being of National Faunal Significance. It is home to the rare swift parrot during the winter months. They come to feed on the nectar of the flowering Yellow Gums.
Yellow Gum Park is an environmentally sensitive area. It is regarded as being of State Floral Significance, and Hyacinth Orchids grow in the area.
There are four major vegetation communities within Yellow Gum Park. They include grassy woodland, escarpment woodland, box ironbark woodland and riparian woodland. This habitat provides home to many native plants and animals.
The Upper Lookout is adjacent to the picnic area. The main walking track, a circuit, about 3 km, starts at the picnic area, descending to the Lower Lookout. It then continues its descent to the Lake shore, then ascends through rugged bushland to the car park.
I explored this nice Park on October 16, 2007.
The full set of images is at Yellow Gum Park
The main feature of the park is a lake that turns a turquoise blue during certain times of the year. Prior to 1957, Yellow Gum Park was part of the historic "Clear Hill" property, which stretched from the Plenty River east to Oatland Road. These lands were predominantly used for dairy farming along with grazing and minor cropping.
As a result of severe bushfires during 1957, the Clear Hill estate was subdivided into smaller allotments. The portion now known as Yellow Gum Park was purchased by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd who quarried the area to produce materials that were used in the construction of many of Melbourne's early 'Sky Scrapers'. Quarrying operations commenced during 1959 and Boral Australia took over the site in the 1960s. The plant was closed in the early 1970s because of ground water seeping into the quarry hole. The ground water seepage has produced the lake we now see today.
Yellow Gum Park is also regarded as being of National Faunal Significance. It is home to the rare swift parrot during the winter months. They come to feed on the nectar of the flowering Yellow Gums.
Yellow Gum Park is an environmentally sensitive area. It is regarded as being of State Floral Significance, and Hyacinth Orchids grow in the area.
There are four major vegetation communities within Yellow Gum Park. They include grassy woodland, escarpment woodland, box ironbark woodland and riparian woodland. This habitat provides home to many native plants and animals.
The Upper Lookout is adjacent to the picnic area. The main walking track, a circuit, about 3 km, starts at the picnic area, descending to the Lower Lookout. It then continues its descent to the Lake shore, then ascends through rugged bushland to the car park.
I explored this nice Park on October 16, 2007.
The full set of images is at Yellow Gum Park
No comments:
Post a Comment