The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Mitchell Shire Region
The Mitchell Shire region is about a one hour drive from Melbourne and includes the towns of Broadford, Kilmore, Seymour, Tallarook and Wallan.
A real highlight is the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk in Seymour which has the name of every serviceman and servicewoman who served in the conflict listed on a wall as well as a Centurion tank, Huey helicopter, artillery pieces and an M1A1 APC.
There is more history at the Tramway Heritage Centre at Bylands which holds a unique collection of cable cars and electric trams and Broadford Pioneer Park.
A map of the region is:
The best playgrounds in this region are:
Community Bank Adventure Play Space, Hadfield Park, Wallan
This wonderful play space has been designed for children of a wide range of ages and abilities and is centred around a five-story tower and a water splash park.
The tower has a dual wave slides from the lowest level, a straight tunnel slide from the mid-point and a very twisty slide from the very top of the tower. There are a few routes up to the very top of the tower of varying degrees of difficulty but anyone who can climb steps will be able to reach the top, although you might get nose bleeds from the altitude. The tower is topped by metal hats which look like they previously belonged to Merlin the Magician.
At the base of the tower is a family size see-saw, big red tractor, spinning cup with hand-wheel and a sandpit which is under a roof. The sandpit has a table for sand play and a cubby house. Hidden away as part of the tower is a clanger to hit against pipes (the distinctive sound rings across the playground almost continuously), shop front, disks on a vertical pole and abacus.
Around the outside of the playground area are flying foxes (one with a harness seat and one with a disk seat), two birds nest swings of different sizes and four standard swings.
The water splash park is located on the side of the playground area. It includes a water play table with pumps, troughs and water channels, a three ring water tunnel with squirting water jets, a tipping bucket, areas with water jets and a "creek" bed area with water jets.
Grassy areas dotted with shady gum trees surround the play space and shelters with tables are scattered about. There is also a shaded BBQ, water taps and toilets (with change room).
The main playground is open to the public all year and the splash park operates from 10am to 8pm between December and March.
A shout-out to the Wallan & Kilmore Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank which made a significant contribution to the funding of the Play Space.
Anzac Avenue Playground, Seymour
Located next to the Seymour Train Station is a playground with a real steam locomotive which is the highlight of the train themed playground. The main structure has a curved row of play equipment which includes a train, horizontal and sloping tunnels, wave slide, small slide, spiral ladder, abacus, chain bridges, flying fox, tic-tac-toe and inclined climbing mat. Also two train carriage springers and swings.
Unshaded wooden table and shaded seat. Up the hill a bit is a shelter with BBQs. Next to a busy road without a fence.
Chittick Park Playground, Seymour
All Abilities playground which is beautifully themed as a farmyard. There is a large "barn" which is the starting point for two tunnel slides and has two tables and an "oven" for cooking play - I'll have damper please! Around the barn are a farmer hauling a bale of hay, chicken, dog, sheep and a lamb. A structure with lovely figures made from shaped metal plus hanging cow bells which all make different sounds. Also a large sandpit with ramp access into the middle.
Off to the side is a non-themed area with monkey rungs, chain traverse and swings (which spoils the overall effect of the playground).
The playground is surrounded by a fence with a beautifully sculptured gate (I would go so far as to say that it is nicer than the Queen Mother's Gate in Hyde Park, London).
There are five good skate parks across the region. The best skate parks are:
Seymour Skatepark
The skatepark includes a big bowl with a spine plus a street section with quarters, banks, decks, grind rail and ledges.
Wallan Skatepark
A large concrete park has a huge area full of rails, ledges, walls and gaps which is well suited to street or tranny skaters. Also split level quarter pipes, spines and rollovers.
Other skate parks in the region are at Broadford, Kilmore and Wandong.
The best BMX track in the region is Wallan BMX Track (A good sized track with hard gravel base which has mainly curved and banked turns with one decent jump).
Reviews of all playgrounds, Skateparks and BMX Tracks in the Mitchell Shire council region are here:
Family activities in the Mitchell Shire region include:
Broadford
Seymour
Wallan
Other Locations
Web Links
→ www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au
