ELIZA WELCH & WATTLE PARK
Wattle Park is a large park in Burwood named for its plantation of 12,000 wattle trees. The park provides public open space for recreation, as well as sporting facilities and a wedding and function venue. It is located approximately one kilometer away from Corio Bay Villa. The function venue located inside the park, known as Wattle Park Chalet, was built specifically as a tea house in 1928 and was not occupied by the earlier owner of the land, Eliza Welch (as I first thought!).
Eliza Welch
Eliza Welch (née Reardon) was a notable figure in Melbourne's history, primarily recognized for her philanthropic contributions and business acumen. Born in Melbourne, she married William Henry Welch, co-founder of the prominent Ball & Welch department store. After her husband's death in 1896, Eliza moved into "Redcourt," a grand residence in East Melbourne, with her sister. This move was conveniently close to their store, recently established in Flinders Street. Following her husband's passing, Eliza became a company director, overseeing the business's operations. She also began investing in property in East Melbourne, understanding the investment opportunities the area offered.
In 1915, Eliza sold 137 acres of bushland in Surrey Hills (the area now known as Wattle Park) to the Hawthorn Tramways Trust (HTT) for £9,000, stipulating that the land be preserved as a public park. This act led to the establishment of Wattle Park, which officially opened on March 31, 1917. The park's name and its extensive planting of wattle trees reflect Eliza's vision of creating a natural sanctuary for Melbourne's residents.
Wattle Park
The development of Wattle Park was put off for some time due to the financial troubles of the HTT. Development of the park started in the 1920s and 30s, with a plantation of 12,000 wattle trees planted between 1926 and 1928. In 1928, two retired W-Class trams were installed as shelter sheds within the park and they remain there today as charming relics that serve as a tribute to Melbourne’s tramway history.
The Wattle Park Chalet was also built in 1928 and is another significant historical feature. Designed as a tea house and built in the Swiss style, the chalet is renowned for its picturesque beauty, rich woodwork, and surrounding gardens. The Wattle Park Chalet was designed by Melbourne architect Alan Monsborough and is located in Wattle Park. The timber beams used for building the chalet were recycled from other, earlier structures. The roof slates came from the former Yarra Bend Asylum. Bricks came from cable tram engine-house chimneys. The front porch was added later, in 1937. Over the decades, the Wattle Park Chalet has hosted countless weddings, celebrations, and community events.
George William Tickner (aka George Nelson)
Most of the trees were planted by Head Landscape Gardener and Curator George William Tickner (later changed by deed poll to George Nelson) who had built his own home at 14 Patterson Avenue, opposite the park. George was responsible for the planning, laying out, design and construction of the tennis courts, golf course, walking tracks, sports oval and many other structures in the park. Employed by the tramways board in the 1920s, Wattle Park became George's life's work until he retired.
Ownership of Wattle Park
The Hawthorn Tramways Trust (HTT) was a pioneering tramway authority in Melbourne, known for establishing and operating electric tram services in the eastern suburbs. Formed in 1914, the HTT opened its first electric tram line in 1916, connecting Riversdale Road in Hawthorn to the city. In 1920, the Victorian government established the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) to unify the city’s tramways. The MMTB acquired the HTT in 1920, including the ownership of Wattle Park. MMTB was responsible for much of the development in the 1920s. In 1991, ownership and management of Wattle Park were transferred from the Public Transport Corporation to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, which later became part of Parks Victoria.
Lone Pine tree The "Lone Pine" tree growing near the main carpark is listed on the National Trust's Significant Tree Register, being one of the country's few original Lone Pines. The tree was grown from the seed of a cone collected by one of the Australian soldiers involved in the Gallipoli Campaign from a tree in Gallipoli, Turkey. It serves as a reminder of this notable battle and the ANZACs' involvement in World War I. Planted in Wattle Park on 8 May 1933 at the Trooping of the Colour by the 24th Battalion, the tree was the first Lone Pine to be publicly planted as an ANZAC memorial, pre-dating the one planted at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance by a month, and the one at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra by seventeen months.
Wattle Park offers a unique blend of nature, history, and relaxation that continues to captivate locals and visitors alike. A network of hiking trails may be explored, some of which pass through original bushland, and over two creeks. So next time you're in Surrey Hills, take some time to explore Wattle Park, a testament to Melbourne’s heritage, resilience, and love for green spaces.
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