Churchill National Park history tour
Churchill National Park history tour
This is a heritage walk through the earliest national park in the Dandenong area, created in 1943. It includes some well known heritage locations within the park, and lesser known points of interest
Summary
This is a heritage walk through the earliest national park in the Dandenong area, created in 1943. It includes some well known heritage locations within the park, and lesser known points of interest
Description
Churchill National Park is a popular picnic and recreation spot close to the regional centre of Dandenong and other populous eastern suburbs. Yet many aspects of its history are surprisingly little-known.
This short heritage tour of the park takes in most of the best known locations, but also some of the more obscure points of interest, including links to the early history of the district, and also the darkest hours in Australia's history in the early 1940s.
Please note that DOGS are NOT PERMITTED in this National Park.
17121 Views
Points of Interest
1. Churchill National Park
Main picnic area: this popular picnic area was created in the late 1970s, with shelters, toilets, and powered barbecues. It is sometimes crowded on weekends, but much quieter on week days
2. Bellbird corner
This aqueduct was created by horse power in the 1930s to feed nearby Lysterfield reservoir. This gully is one of the more moist spots upon this level, easy section of this walk
3. Where aqueducts meet
This siphon marks the point where a second aqueduct from a spring in the hills to the north fed into the main aqueduct. We can't follow the aqueduct here, but pick it up a little further on
4. The upper aqueduct
The northern aqueduct is more overgrown, but the west embankment provides a reasonably clear course for the short distance of 250 metres. There are fine views to the north and west
5. Dandenong Shire quarry
This disused quarry only operated from 1913 to 1917, and provided Dandenong Shire Council with road metal via a narrow gauge 3 km horse-drawn tramway thru the Police Paddocks to Stud Road
6. Crest of the range
The actual summit is slightly north of the track on private property, but even from the fence line there are excellent views in the direction of the city, and also wildlife in the mornings and evening
7. Stonemasons track
The name of this track is literal. Beside the trail can be seen evidence of small scale quarrying, and the brick remains of buildings where the stonemasons lived and worked more than 100 years ago
8. Flagpole
This rusty flagpole is a link to Australia's darkest hour. In 1941, a military camp was hurriedly set up here to stop a Japanese invasion of Melbourne. Its commander, Col. George Knox, had it moved
9. Back on the aqueduct
This is the east end of the main aqueduct we picked up 5 km earlier. The flat walking trail is an easy return route to the main picnic area, though there is much traffic noise from the nearby road
Features
Picnic spot
Drinking water available
Seating available
Public toilets
Historical interest
Local treasures
