Ruffey Lake Heritage Trail, Doncaster

Ruffey Lake Park (locally Ruffeys) is a park in the City of Manningham, about 20 km east of central Melbourne.

It is situated around Ruffey Lake in a portion of a valley through which the Ruffey Creek runs, forming the border between Doncaster and Templestowe.

Formerly orchards, the park has a diverse ecology - this includes a riparian strip of native bushland around the creek, areas of pine trees planted by early settlers and pockets of fruit trees remaining from past orchards.

The park is named after Ruffey Creek, a watercourse that runs through the Park. After European settlement, the Creek was dammed to irrigate the surrounding orchards, forming Ruffey Lake.

I visited this beautiful park on Thursday afternnoon Septdembedr 30, 2010, completing the 3 km Heritage Trail.


Interesting interpretative signs and heritage photos along the Trail describe the Park's various features and history from the 1840s.

See all of the Photos of my visit!