Slide 2 From Wasteland to Wildlife Haven Slide 3 Darebin
Parklands Association 1973 2011 Slide 4 The story so far Slide 5
Spot the difference Slide 6 Slide 7 Slide 8 Slide 9 For almost 40
years, the Darebin Parklands Association has worked to transform a
former tip and quarry into one of Melbournes best urban bushland
reserves. Slide 10 The habitat, created largely through the vision
and work of volunteers, now supports a growing and diverse range of
wildlife. Slide 11 This includes echidna, kangaroos, flying foxes,
native fish and frogs, possums and 70 species of birds. Slide 12
The Darebin Parklands Association began in 1973, but the story of
the parklands began a long time ago Slide 13 In the beginning Slide
14 800,000 years ago Slide 15 Vast quantities of lava from
volcanoes north of Melbourne flood the Darebin Creek valley. Slide
16 This basalt can be seen in the formations and rocks along the
creek in the parklands. Slide 17 430 million years ago Slide 18 In
ancient seas, fine mud and sand sediment layers form. Over
millennia, these are warped and pushed to the surface. Slide 19
This Silurian age rock can be seen in the parklands on the Ivanhoe
side of the creek. Slide 20 40,000 years ago Slide 21 The Wurudgeri
people looked up into the sky and saw Bunjil who takes the form of
an eagle, the creator of people, lands, laws and language. Slide 22
Darebin Creek was an area of beautiful grassy woodlands, with emus,
kangaroos, bandicoots, fish, lizards and waterbirds suppling plenty
of food for the Wurundjeri people. Slide 23 150 years ago Slide 24
In 1858 John Sharp Adams buys what is now the Alphington side of
the parklands. He builds Ivy Cottage and Rockleigh farmhouse and
establishes a farm with olive trees, an orchard and vineyard, as
well as cows, pigs and carriage horses. Slide 25 Slide 26 Slide 27
In 1890, John Sharp Adams son Thomas begins quarrying on the
Alphington side of the park. Slide 28 Slide 29 Slide 30 Slide 31
Slide 32 Slide 33 The 40 metre deep quarry hole is leased to
Northcote Council as a municipal tip in 1967. Within eight years,
it is full. Slide 34 In 1975 Darebin Council says Its Time and buys
the tip site and the Darebin Creek floodplains as parkland. Slide
35 Slide 36 Slide 37 Meanwhile on the Ivanhoe side of the creek
Slide 38 In 1857 Thomas Hutchings Bear buys Rockbeare Estate and
develops the property as a farm and winery. He builds Rockbeare
homestead on Darebin Hill. Slide 39 Slide 40 In 1923 Herman Groth
purchases Rockbeare Park. After failed development bids he sells it
six years later for 2,000 to the president, councillors and
ratepayers of Heidelberg Shire. Slide 41 Rockbeare Park, one of
Melbournes earliest suburban parks, is born. Slide 42 It becomes a
popular place for Sunday school picnics, sports, Scout jamborees,
swimming, yabbying (and catching leeches to sell to the local
chemist). Slide 43 Slide 44 Slide 45 But the fun doesnt
lastRockbeare Park gradually falls from local favour. Visitors stop
coming and the council leases the land to McLoskeys riding school
for horse grazing. Slide 46 Slide 47 Slide 48 The parklands remain
neglected and all but forgotten until the 1970s. Some people think
it ripe for industrial development. Others think the parklands
would make a fine freeway. Slide 49 Few people realise the value of
the remnant native vegetation and unique geological formations
struggling beneath the weeds. Slide 50 Slide 51 And then one day
The Board of Works decides to improve the drain by clear felling
trees along the creek. Slide 52 Locals are incensed. They form the
Rockbeare Park Conservation Group and begin campaigning for the
preservation of the site as a bushland reserve. Slide 53 In the
first of many victories, the board stops clearing and donates 300
trees for the new parklands. Slide 54 The renowned landscape
architect Ellis Stones supervises this first planting in 1974. He
also designs the Rockbeare Park entrance. Slide 55 Over the next
few years volunteers plant 3,500 trees. Bucket brigades carting
water from neighbouring backyards keep them alive. Slide 56
Volunteers painstaking clear thistles, box thorn and other weeds,
aided by a $20,000 government grant. Slide 57 Slide 58 As well as
planting, the DPAs forerunners lobby in earnest for the creation of
a park on both sides of the creek. Slide 59 The organisation
changes its name to the Darebin Parklands Association. Its
constitution commits it to maintaining the parklands as a nature
reserve. Slide 60 In 1977, the Premier, Sir Rupert Hamer, comes to
visit and offers to match council funding for the park. Slide 61
The Heidelberger newspaper reported: The Premier braved thistles
and blackberry bushesbut emerged enthusiastic and impressed Slide
62 Slide 63 Slide 64 Our first (honorary) park ranger Duties
include hand removal of caterpillars Slide 65 In 1979, DPA member
Sidney Clifton designs a bridge to link the Ivanhoe and Alphington
sides of the park for the first time. Slide 66 The formwork is
built in Sidneys Ivanhoe lounge room. Volunteers build the bridge.
When the cement truck is delayed, they complete it by gas lantern
in the middle of the night. Slide 67 Slide 68 Slide 69 DPA members
also design and build the timber rangers hut, on the Ivanhoe side
of the park. Slide 70 Slide 71 Slide 72 The Premier, Sir Rupert,
returns to do the honours at the official opening. It is possibly
the first time that a government leader has opened a shed. Slide 73
Slide 74 In 1985 a strapping young lad becomes the parklands first
professional ranger Slide 75 The DPA helps build paths and seats.
In 1990 DPA member Trevor Howes designs the parks landmark lookout
tower and volunteers help build it. Slide 76 Slide 77 Plantings
continue throughout the 1990s, along with public events such as
Peoples Day in the Parklands and Dancin the Darebin. Slide 78 In
2001 the first Olive Festival is held. Hundreds of people sing,
dance, feast and harvest olives, which are pressed into olive oil.
Slide 79 Slide 80 Slide 81 Slide 82 Slide 83 Slide 84 Slide 85
Slide 86 Slide 87 Slide 88 Following the success of the Olive
Festivals in 2001 and 2002, the DPA launches a calendar of
community events so that more families and local residents get
involved. Slide 89 Our first event, a community bonfire, attracts
more than 300 people. Slide 90 Slide 91 Everyones survives Petes
pyromania. Slide 92 In 2005 we commission a new logo by artist
Kathy Howloko, celebrating our unique park and its natural and
man-made features. Slide 93 The logo shows the duck ponds, bridge
and creek. The concentric circles are platypus ripples. They
symbolise our long- term aim of restoring habitat to help platypus
return to live in the creek. Slide 94 We revamp our newsletter and
create our first website. Slide 95 In 2005, we launch the Darebin
Parklands Picnic Races. Hundreds of people come to toss eggs and
gumboots, enjoy sack racing and tackle the King and Queen of the
Mountain race up Mount Puffalo. Slide 96 Slide 97 Slide 98 Slide 99
Slide 100 Slide 101 Slide 102 Slide 103 Slide 104 Slide 105 Slide
106 Slide 107 We also launch the Junior Ranger Club in 2003, with
activities including Catch-a-Carp Day and wildlife spotlighting. By
the end of the first year 70 kids join. Slide 108 Slide 109 Slide
110 Slide 111 Slide 112 In 2003 we survey members for our first
action plan. We officially adopt the objective of creating native
animal habitat so that wildlife including the platypus can live in
the parklands. Slide 113 Action plan projects include starting a
plant nursery. Slide 114 Volunteers plant seeds into tubes, then
take them home to nurture them. We grow thousands of trees, shrubs
and grasses for the parklands. We also supply landowners and
schools along the catchment. Slide 115 Slide 116 Slide 117
Developing the Home Cats, Safe Cats, Safe Wildlife project,
supported by the RSPCA and Cat Protection Society, to encourage
responsible pet ownership Slide 118 We develop an information
leaflet and fridge magnet and deliver it to hundreds of households
around the park. Banyule and Darebin Council back the project.
Darebin delivers the leaflet to all cat owners in the municipality
and Banyule puts it on its website. Slide 119 And working for the
return of the platypus Slide 120 We plant trees, clean up litter
and help improve water quality with our pollution signs project.
Our Junior Rangers put platypus stencils on drains around the park.
Slide 121 Slide 122 Slide 123 Slide 124 Slide 125 Slide 126 In 2004
we begin the $60,000 Westpac Hidden Valley project. Working with
ranger Peter Wiltshire to a landscape plan designed by DPA member
Dave Mitchell, we restore pre-European vegetation to the area.
Slide 127 DPA members and other volunteers contribute the
equivalent of $40,000 in labour over two years. Slide 128 In
January 2006, the Australian Platypus Conservancy records a
platypus sighting just north of the parklands. Slide 129 Wildlife
including native fish, flying foxes, reptiles, frogs, tortoises,
possums and more than 70 species of birds, some endangered, now
live in the park. Slide 130 Kangaroos have moved in. Experts
predict that koalas will follow. Slide 131 Slide 132 Slide 133 The
DPAs work does not go unnoticed. In 2006 we win a regional LandCare
Award Slide 134 A $7,000 NAB Volunteer Award Slide 135 And a United
Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award Slide
136 Slide 137 But wait theres more 2008 Banyule Volunteer Group of
the Year Award 2011 Victorian Landcare Awards, finalist, Community
Group section 2011 Victorian Landcare Awards, finalist, Urban
Landcare section Victorian Landcare Long Service Honour Roll, Sue
Course, founder, nominee 2011 Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable
Cities Award, finalist, Community Action category 2011 Keep
Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards, finalist, Community
Leadership category Slide 138 Slide 139 In 2011 we launch a new
website, newsletter and Facebook page Slide 140 We also commission
and launch Darebin Parklands: Escaping the Claws of the Machine, by
Dr Sarah Mirams, with foreword by Professor Tim Flannery Slide 141
Darebin Parklands has been transformed from a wasteland into one of
Melbournes best urban bushland reserves. Thanks to you, our members
Slide 142 Slide 143 Story to be continued Slide 144 Based on
historical research by Sue Course Photography by Chris Bailey The
collection of Sue and Laurie Course Anthony Jones Michael Mann
Graeme Martin Isabelle Renaudin Peter Wiltshire From Little Things
Big Things Grow courtesy of Paul Kelly Slide 145
