Currawong Bush Park

This article is about the Melbourne park. For other uses, see Currawong.

Currawong Bush Park
Millers Pond in Currawong Bush Park
Type	Public Park
Location	Melbourne
Coordinates	37.7612°S 145.1839°E / -37.7612; 145.1839
Area	59 hectares
Opened	1970's
Operated by	City of Manningham
Visitors	750 per month approx.
Status	Open
Paths	Unsealed bush paths
Terrain	Remnant Riparian Bushland
Water	Mullum Mullum Creek, Millers Pond, Billy Baxter Wetlands, Go-Betweens Gully, Amersham Gully
Vegetation	Australian Native
Landmarks	Mullum Mullum Creek, Scar Trees
Facilities	Toilets, Barbecues, Picnic areas, Conference room, Education centre, Wildlife sanctuary

Aerial panorama of Currawong Bush Park facing west to Melbourne city

Currawong Bush Park is a riparian bushland park located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne on the borders of Doncaster East, Warrandyte and Donvale and on the eastern bank of the Mullum Creek. It covers 59 hectares of remnant bushland and hosts archaeological sites of the indigenous Australian inhabitants.

History

Aerial panorama of Currawong Bush Park facing east to the Dandenong Ranges

An archaeological survey of Aboriginal sites within City of Manningham by Isabel Ellender in 1991, discovered evidence of the presence of the Wurundjeri people in the park, in the form of four scarred trees. An Aboriginal stone artefact was also found along the Mullum Mullum Creek. The Wurundjeri were part of the Kulin nation, comprising the main tribes living within about a 150 km radius of Melbourne. The Wurundjeri are of the Woiwurrung tribe, one of five Kulin tribes, each of whom had their own land and language.

More recent history shows the building housing the Ranger's Residence, Park Office and Conference Room as a building of State historical significance. It is a notable example of the design work of Victorian architect Geoffrey Trewenack. It has sometimes mistakenly been attributed to the Victorian architect Kevin Borland. The house was built by Robin and Bunty Elder, in 1959. They resided there until approximately 1969, when the property was acquired as a public park.

Currently, the park has no on-site manager or ranger. Previously, a full-time ranger was employed by the City of Manningham through an environmental group until funding was cut around 2004. According to the Currawong Bush Park management plan in 2003, $1–2 million would be enough to upgrade facilities and deal with threats to the park's ecology. Three staff are required to operate and manage the park properly.

Geography

Regenerative planting near the education centre and camping site

The park sits on a 59 hectare section of land on the eastern bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek, from the creek itself along the flat banks and up the hillside. The hillside is faulted by two gullies that flow into the Mullum Mullum Creek; Go-betweens Gully and Amersham Gully. The Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park sits on the opposite bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek to the west.

Watercourses

• Mullum Mullum Creek
• Go-Betweens Gully
• Amersham Gully

Waterbodies

• Millers Pond – a purpose built reservoir added around the same time as the stockyards
• Billy Baxter Wetlands – recently constructed regenerative wetlands
• Penny's Pond

Ecology

The heritage listed Conference Centre building

The park is an example of the native ecology of the area prior to European settlement. Many native species of flora and fauna can be found in the park including many species of eucalypts such as the Manna Gum and kangaroos such as the Eastern Grey.

Threats to Ecology

Being surrounded by low-density residential development, some of the most urgent problems the park faces stem from introduced species such as rabbits, foxes, stray dogs, and cats, occupying the park. Stray dogs mutilate Eastern Grey kangaroos and any young they may be carrying, rabbits dig furrows in the soil and entice foxes into the park who compete with stray dogs for territory. Stray cats hunt native bird life and possums. Various weeds from neighboring properties flow down watercourses into the gullies.

Threats from humans include disturbance of plant and animal life from motorbikes and bicycles, and light pollution from the neighbouring hockey field in the southern area of the park. The combined effect of the light pollution and traffic noise and pollution from Reynolds Road drives wildlife away from the southern slopes and into other areas of the park where they compete with other species for already limited space.

Regulations

The entire park is off-limits to dogs. Motorized transport including motorbikes, scooters, and trail bikes is strictly limited to the roadway and carparks. Cyclists may ride on fire access tracks, but must dismount before entering smaller, unsealed walking tracks. The park is particularly susceptible to bushfires and, being so close to residential areas, the fire danger in the area is immediate. Fire is only to be used in the campfire site near the Education Centre, where there are electric barbecues for cooking. There is no camping in the park.