Kilcatten Park, Rowville Vic 3178
Kilcatten Park, Rowville Vic 3178
This heritage walk takes in Rowville's past, both early and relatively modern. There are traces of forgotten dreams, quirky innovations, and evidence of a dark past.
Summary
This heritage walk takes in Rowville's past, both early and relatively modern. There are traces of forgotten dreams, quirky innovations, and evidence of a dark past.
Description
Rowville today is densely settled, but this was not the case only fifty years ago.
In this short, easy walk are echoes of Rowville's days as a rural area, and connections to the the Aboriginal people prior to white settlement in The Dreaming.
More modern history is evident in some places, and some interesting examples of the lengths people go to to solve simple domestic problems.
Keep an eye out for an incline tramway at the front of a steep property.
6385 Views
Points of Interest
1. Starlight reserve
This reserve dates from the 1970s, but contains Aboriginal bush tucker sources, and also remains of the Rowville military camp, built in 1942 to protect Melbourne from Japanese invasion
2. Tirhatuan wetlands
This wetland is named for the homestead occupied by Rev. James Clow, first European settler in the City of Knox, 1838. The wetland is home to much bird life, and aquatic species such as frogs.
3. Police Road retarding basin
This massive retaining wall was constructed in the 1970s for flood mitigation by the Dandenong Valley Authority. The DVA was absorbed as part of Melbourne Water in the 1990s
4. Magic 1278 transmission towers
These radio broadcast towers were constructed in the 1970s for AM radio Magic 693. Today operated by Magic 1278, transmissions from here are so powerful they can be picked up (just) in Antarctica!
5. Kilcatten Park site
Kilcatten Park homestead was built by James Quirk in 1856, and home for many years to the Golding family. The homestead has now vanished, but exotic fruit trees still mark the site
6. VFL Park
This arena was to be the home of Australian Rules football, staging the Grand Final and provided with its own rail line. Today, a moldering section of grandstand is all that remains
Features
Playground
Drinking water available
Seating available
Dog off-leash area
Historical interest
Local treasures
Park / Garden
