Currawong Bush Park
Encyclopedia
Currawong Bush Park is an important riparian bushland
park, located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
on the borders of Doncaster East, Warrandyte and Donvale
, on the eastern bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek. The park is important for a number of reasons, it comprises 59 hectares of remnant bushland and hosts many archaeological sites concerning the pre-European inhabitants
of the area.
The major threats to the park's ecology are introduced species of flora and fauna such as fox
es, rabbit
s, dog
s and cat
s. It is a popular destination for school and community groups and is frequented by local bush walkers. It once housed a group of kangaroos in its wildlife enclosure, however due to funding cuts, the park can no longer be managed full time by a park ranger
and the enclosure was closed.
by Ellender in 1991, discovered evidence of the presence of the Wurundjeri
people in the park, in the form of four scarred trees. Scarred trees are trees from which bark or heartwood has been removed to make a wooden artefact such as a shield, canoe or container. 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 Woiworung 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 fine example of the innovative and influential design work of the distinguished 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 approx 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.
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; 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.
The park is a rare 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 eucalypt
s such as the Manna Gum and kangaroo
s such as the eastern grey
.
s, fox
es, stray dog
s and cat
s, occupying the park. Stray dogs mutilate eastern grey kangaroo
s 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. Stay cats hunt native bird life and possum
s. Various weeds from neighbouring properties flow down watercourses into the gullies, this can be seen occurring in Go-betweens Gully.
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.
s for cooking. There is no camping in the park.
Bushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
park, located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on the borders of Doncaster East, Warrandyte and Donvale
Donvale, Victoria
Donvale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Donvale had a population of 11,667...
, on the eastern bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek. The park is important for a number of reasons, it comprises 59 hectares of remnant bushland and hosts many archaeological sites concerning the pre-European inhabitants
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
of the area.
The major threats to the park's ecology are introduced species of flora and fauna such as fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s and cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s. It is a popular destination for school and community groups and is frequented by local bush walkers. It once housed a group of kangaroos in its wildlife enclosure, however due to funding cuts, the park can no longer be managed full time by a park ranger
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
and the enclosure was closed.
History
An archaeological survey of aboriginal sites within City of ManninghamCity of Manningham
The City of Manningham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne. The total population is 118,544 , divided up into 10 suburbs, the largest being Doncaster and Templestowe, over an area of 113 square kilometres.The district spans a...
by Ellender in 1991, discovered evidence of the presence of the Wurundjeri
Wurundjeri
The Wurundjeri are a people of the Indigenous Australian nation of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin alliance, who occupy the Birrarung Valley, its tributaries and the present location of Melbourne, Australia...
people in the park, in the form of four scarred trees. Scarred trees are trees from which bark or heartwood has been removed to make a wooden artefact such as a shield, canoe or container. 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 Woiworung 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 fine example of the innovative and influential design work of the distinguished 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 approx 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
City of Manningham
The City of Manningham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne. The total population is 118,544 , divided up into 10 suburbs, the largest being Doncaster and Templestowe, over an area of 113 square kilometres.The district spans a...
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
Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park
The Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park is located east of Melbourne, Australia in the suburbs of Doncaster East and Donvale. It streaches for roughly 3 km along the western banks of the Mullum Mullum Creek between Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road and Tindals Road. Facilities include sealed pathways,...
sits on the opposite bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek to the west.
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
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
s such as the Manna Gum and kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s such as the eastern grey
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. It is also known as the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Forester Kangaroo...
.
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 rabbitRabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, stray dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s and cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, occupying the park. Stray dogs mutilate eastern grey kangaroo
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. It is also known as the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Forester Kangaroo...
s 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. Stay cats hunt native bird life and possum
Possum
A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi .Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails...
s. Various weeds from neighbouring properties flow down watercourses into the gullies, this can be seen occurring in Go-betweens Gully.
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 a no dog zone, not even dogs on leads can enter the park. Motorised 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 prior to 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 very real. Fire should only be used in the campfire site near the Education Centre, there are electric barbecueBarbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
s for cooking. There is no camping in the park.