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QUEENS PARK Moonee Ponds |
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 Photograph from Aldous, p 105 Queens Park is Moonee Valley's finest and oldest park with it's mature trees, lake, wildlife and curvilinear layout and it has a rich and colourful history as a social focus for the Moonee Valley community. The Wurundjeri people are the traditional owners of the area known as Queens Park and the surrounding district. Before white settlement there was a natural waterhole and a abundance of food such as waterfowl, possum, parrot and cockatoo. The area was dominated by Red Gum forest, remnants of which still survive in the north-east corner of the park. In 1897 the Moonee Ponds Reserve officially became known as Queen's Park. Its name change was the form the Borough decided upon to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The area of what is now Queen's Park was once an important watering reserve for passing stockman. It was part of the complex drainage system of Moonee Ponds Creek; a natural depression in the landscape. Prior to the region officially becoming a reserve, the area was set aside by the Department of Lands and Survey as being "common land". The Councillors of the region must take a lot of credit for their foresight in regards to the forming of the Moonee Ponds Reserve. They applied to the Department of Lands and Survey for the reserve to be placed under their borough's jurisdiction; this was done in 1862 and approved by 1863. Altogether, 23 acres of land were set aside as being the Moonee Ponds
Reserve. This area had a diverse array of native flora and fauna and was
already rich in local history. Gold diggers camped here to refresh
before continuing their journey to the fields. As the Borough of
Essendon expanded and developed the park did also. The park was held in
high esteem by the local residents and visitors alike paid many
compliments to the spacious and diverse gardens. By the turn of the
century, the first curator, Mr. John Oliver had transformed the
"ugly duckling into a beautiful swan". Under his guidance
Queen's Park became the center of Essendon sporting and social life; it
had well and truly become " the people's park". References: Kerley, p, 1988, Queens Park Redevelopment
Study,
City of Essendon |
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