Blackburn Lake Sanctuary (Blackburn)
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary has indigenous bushland, a lake, extensive walking tracks, Visitors Centre and two playgrounds.
The centre-piece of the Sanctuary is the man-made lake Blackburn Lake which was formed in 1889 by the damming of Gardiner's Creek. The Freehold Investment & Banking Company, an early land speculative syndicate, is credited with having built it to enhance land values and to provide a reservoir for local orchardists.
In the 1920's, diving towers were erected and swimming lessons were held at the lake and in 1962 the dam wall in Lake Road was built by the MMBW to form a retarding basin to prevent flooding furthur down Gardiner's Creek. In the 1990s the lake water was almost dead but the habitat and water quality have now improved. There is a good population of native ducks, coots, cormorants, herons and sometimes swans and pelicans as well as a colony of tortoises.
Visitors open the Visitor Centre every Sunday afternoon to show displays of the history and the plants, animals and insects of the area. There are also regular activities, usually monthly, to inspire, entertain and inform about the environment.
Around 1893 the artist Frederick McCubbin set up his easel in the bushland surrounding Blackburn Lake and painted some of his best known works such as the Bush Idyll.
The playgrounds are at Central Road and Clifton Street.
Review:
Blackburn Lake is a nice area to have a walk or a shortish bike ride for the kids. There are a range of interesting stopping points for the kids including two playgrounds, analemmatic sundial, small indigenous garden and views of the lakes where you can spot water birds. There is a nice wide gravel path around the lake and viewpoints and boardwalks to get close to the water to see some wildlife such as cormorants and ducks. The main track around the lake is Lakeside Circuit but you can follow Melaleuca Walk to get to the sundial, playground and Juby's indigenous garden on the north side where there are also unshaded tables and seats, toilets, water tap, car parking area and Information Centre (which has information brochures and maps of walks).
Photos:
Location
115 Central Road, Blackburn 3130 Map
Web Links
→ blackburnlakesanctuary.org
→ Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
