Exploring Koomba Park

These pix were taken on April 19 2012.

Koomba Park is the most northern of the parks which comprise the Dandenong Valley Parklands, and is about 30 km east of central Melbourne.

It was opened in December 1981 and extends for 33 ha between Boronia Road and Mountain Highway.

Enjoy a quiet stroll through remnant vegetation alongside Dandenong Creek!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Westerfold's Park - Templestowe - Main Yarra Trail

Westerfolds Park is a large (130 hectares) area in the outer eastern suburb of Templestowe, only 15 km from the Melbourne CBD.

Prior to European settlement, the area was originally part of the Wurundjeri tribe territory. The area which is now Westerfolds Park was purchased from the Crown in 1846 and had an unremarkable history until the Turner family bought the property in the early 1930s and built the Manor in 1936.

By the 1950s the growing population had pushed most of the large-scale farmers and orchardists out of the surrounding area, but residential and industrial development did not occur in the river valley, mainly because of the threat of flooding. Westerfolds was salvaged from suburban development and added to the Yarra Valley Parklands in 1977.

In 1978, due to growing community interest in the environment and a demand for areas of open space to pursue passive recreation, Melbourne Parks and Waterways (later Parks Victoria) began to manage and develop the land into Westerfolds Park.

The park has become a haven for wildlife. Parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras, water birds and small bush birds can be seen, along with bats, platypus, wombats, koalas, possums, and even Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Since the days of European settlers and timber cutters, thousands of native trees have been planted, native grassland and bush conserved and wetlands reinstated. Today, a blend of Eucalypts, Acacias, grasses and shrubs provide a natural environment - over 400 species native to the area have been recorded.

The pictures were taken on March 7, 2012, on a 4 km hike along the Main Yarra Trail, showing the Yarra Rapids and adjacent tracks.

See the Map Image for the route.

Check out all of the Photos of my visit, and the YouTube Video!

TIkalara Park - Main Yarra Trail - Templestowe

Tikalara Park is a large area of preserved land in the Yarra Valley Parklands, in the Templestowe municipality, 20 km NE of the Melbourne CBD.

The Main Yarra Trail passes through the Park.

I explored the Park on Sunday afternoon Marcbn 4, 2012, which included a 5 km return hike along the Trail, starting at Webster's Rd, to a turnaround point near Petty's Orchard.

The historic Pontville Homestead is in the Park, but visitors are prohibited, as the surrounding land is occupied by grazing cattle.

Pontville Homestead was constructed in the 1840s on part of a large 1830s pastoral holding at the confluence of the Yarra Yarra River and the Mullum Mullum Creek by the pastoralist Major Charles Newman (1795-1866).

Newman claimed that he and his family were the first white settlers at Deep (or Mullum Mullum) Creek and at the time were the furthest settlers east of Melbourne. The remains of his first dwelling, a turf hut, have not yet been located but are most probably quite near the confluence of the creek and river.

Pontville now comprises a house constructed c.1843-50 and extended in the 1870s, remnant plantings, cottage foundations, outbuildings, bridge foundations, tracks, and a range of other features associated with the farming use of the area since the 1830s.

Pontville was acquired by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works in 1978, and Parks Victoria now manages the property as part of Paddle Reserve.

The photos show the Park, resident kangaroos, the Trail, other walkers, cyclists, ducks, the Yarra and the Mullum Mullum Creek

Sadly, rabbits have invaded the park, and their burrows have impacted badly, particularly along the river bank.

See all of the Photos of my visit, and check out my YouTube Video!