The History
Friends of Banyule's Virtual Tour
workshop
Friends of Banyule organised a Workshop on 23
February 2011 for members to participate in the creation of the
Banyule Flats and Warringal Parklands Virtual Tour
project. The Virtual Tour will include stories about Banyule's
past & present and will be made available on our website
in the coming weeks.
At the workshop, we shared stories,
knowledge and passion about this unique area which is currently
under threat by the proposed North East Link freeway. Thanks
to Marion, Lene and Kevin who facilitated the workshop.
The Yarra in flood 1934 (left) Regatta on the Yarra
-right (date unknown) Source: Darebin
Historical Library
The ideas & information will
chronical one of Melbourne's most valuable assets - The Banyule
Parklands. The Virtual Tour is designed to increase interest
in this much loved part of the city...
When proposed plans for the $6 billion
North East Link freeway project were made public in 2008 the
residents of Banyule realised with alarm that the unique features
of the area's parklands were under threat. Local residents joined
forces to form Friends of Banyule and together with Warringal
Conservation Society, Protectors of Public Lands & other
groups, have been actively campaigning against the proposed freeway
ever since by looking for ways to increase public awareness with
the view to preserving this significant area of pristine parklands.
The idea for the Virtual Tour was the brainchild of
Friends of Banyule and the project has received a Grant from
Banyule City Council.
The Virtual Tour will take visitors
back in time with stories of aboriginal life and the beginnings of
European settlement. It will also pay tribute to the artists who
came to Heidelberg and captured so many local scenes and gave birth
to Australiam Impressionism, internationally known as The
Heidelberg School. The Virtual Tour will showcase the amazing
diversity of flora and fauna of the Banyule Flats Wetlands,
Warringal Parklands and Bolin Bolin Billabong along with the many
activities that Melburnans enjoy throughout these beautiful
parklands. For the many thousands of people who use the
parklands for cycling, sports activities, picnics, wedding and
family gatherings there is no doubting the richness of this unique
asset in the heart of the city.
Ecologically the parklands are a
success story. With deliberate revegetation of native plants
starting over forty years ago we regularly see native fauna such as
wombats, koala, platypus and kangaroos. The number of bird species
that inhabit these green wedges are one of the largest and most
diverse in Melbourne. Groups of school children often visit the
parklands to learn more about caring for their environment and the
many creatures who share these spaces with us.
To those who truly appreciate our open
spaces, a Freeway would be unthinkable. Marion Ware of Friends of
Banyule said that the Virtual Tour project will become significant
to Melburnians and help them understand that the Warringal
Parklands are an extremely valuable asset which needs to be
protected. "We want to involve the community, to share their
stories, how they use the parklands and to provide an educational
aspect for children visiting the area." she said. "We also want to
make the area accessible to people with disabilities who may not be
able to physically access the parklands. The Tour will provide a
digital environment for them to experience this unique area.
We envisage continuing to add to the information we will
intially provide on our website, through evolving the Virtual Tour
and enabling local people and visitors to contact us with
information and their personal stories about one of Melbourne's
last remaining 'green wedge' areas.
If you have ideas or stories of
Banyule's past or present , please contact us