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RESERVE - EDWARDES LAKE AND PARK
200A EDWARDES STREET, RESERVOIR, DAREBIN CITY

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Darebin City
Edwardes Lake and Park, Edwardes Street, Reservoir
Edwardes Lake and Park, Edwardes Street, Reservoir
Edwardes Lake and Park, Edwardes Street, Reservoir
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
Edwardes Lake Park, Edwardes Street, Reservoir, is a large park in the north of Darebin, an undulating picturesque landscape with meandering paths, specimen plantings, clumps and rows of trees, narrow streams (Edgars Creek) cascading over weirs, passing under bridges, and feeding into a large lake, peppered with sporting fields and recreational facilities. The park was formally donated to the citizens of Preston in 1914 by Thomas Edwardes Dwyer (whose family had owned the land since 1840). The lake was first used for boating (rowing) by the Preston Rowing Club from 1891.

While many modifications over the years have altered the integrity of Edwardes Lake Park, the park is in good condition, and a number of historic elements remain, such as the perimeter plantings of rows of and other mature specimen plantings, which serve as a reminder it the park's historic origins. Edwardes Lake Park continues to play a prominent and important role in the social and sporting life of the local community.

The following elements contribute to the significance of this place:
- the perimeter plantings (rows of Monterey Cypress, Radiata Pine)
- other mature trees (clumps and specimen plantings) within the park
- the lake
- Edgars Creek
- the undulating landform
- the range of recreational spaces and facilities (excluding fabric)
- the use of the space by the local community for a diverse range of recreational and social purposes.
- other trees
- paths
- landscaping, street furniture, bridges, etc
- the rose garden; and
- the locomotive.

The physical fabric of recent recreational facilities, paths, dams, weirs, bridges; landscape furniture; gateway; etc is not significant.

How is it significant?
Edwardes Lake Park, Edwardes Street, Reservoir is of local historic and social significance to Darebin City.

Why is it significant?
Historically, Edwardes Lake Park is significant as an important early recreational space in the City of Darebin, used for boating from 1891 and donated to the citizens of Preston in 1914. As well, it is important as one of the longest-standing, continuously used sporting and social venues in Darebin for a diverse range of recreational and social purposes by the local community. (AHC criteria A.4, B.2)

Historically, Edwardes Lake Park is significant for its associations with Mr Catani, presumably Mr Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Victorian Public Works Department, who was hired by Preston Council in 1915 to lay out the park. (AHC criterion H.1)

Socially, Edwardes Lake Park is significant as a place that is held in high esteem by the local communities who use the place, and for whom the park plays an important role in their social and everyday lives. (AHC criterion G.1)

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    • Physical Description 1

      RESERVE - EDWARDES LAKE AND PARK - Physical Description 1

      Edwardes Lake Park is located on the north side of Edwardes Street, Reservoir. Seaver Grove forms the park's west boundary, Leamington Street its north boundary, and Griffiths Street the east boundary.

      The topography of the park and planting throughout are shaped so that adjacent residential areas are screened. There is a combination of early rows of cypress, Pines, and Eucalypts; as well as more recent plantings of scattered native trees and shrubs. The paths meander through the park and are either gravel or asphalt. (City of Darebin Heritage Review, 1997, p.83). More recently, revegetation works and improvements to the lake have been undertaken as part of 2004 Redevelopment and Water Improvement Works program, resulting in new landscaping (grass and water's edge planting), in particular at the north end, and around the holding pond to the northeast of the park (on the north side of Leamington Street).

      The park features a number of designed and engineered features

      . Edwardes Lake-a man-made lake developed as part of the original subdivision, pre-1890s. The bluestone edging of the Lake was identified as intact in 1997

      . Dam in northeast corner of the park, on Edgars Creek, recently upgraded (new concrete replacing earlier fabric)

      . Dam and spillway in the southwest corner of the park, recently upgraded (new concrete replacing earlier fabric)

      . Bridge crossings at the northeast corner of lake (new fabric)

      . Gateway at main entrance, corner of Edwardes and Griffiths Streets, rendered masonry piers, dating from 1961 (brackets suggest missing elements)

      . Ern Rose Memorial Pavilion (1970)

      There are a number of mature trees within the park.

      . Bhutan Cypress (Cupressus torulosa)

      . Golden Cypress (Cupressus glabra)

      . Canary Island Palm (Phoenix canariensis)

      . Peppercorn trees (Schinus molle)

      . Desert Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa)

      . Eucalyptus and Corymbia species

      . Willow (Salix babylonica)

      There are a number of remnant rows of trees including:

      . Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) x 31, parallel to Seaver Grove

      . Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) x 27, parallel to Leamington Street and north the Scout Hall

      . Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) x 13, south of the Scout Hall

      . Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) x 21, parallel to Griffiths Street

      . Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) x 45, parallel to Edwardes Street and east of Edgars Creek

      . Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) x 11, parallel to Edwardes Street and west of Edgars Creek.

      An early acacia collection, said to have been planted by Hugh Linnaker, was not found on the site.

      The park has a number of community sporting and recreational facilities, including:

      . BBQ and Picnic Area on the west lake foreshore

      . Preston Yacht Club, west lake edge

      . Lakeview Tennis Club, northern edge of the park

      . Reservoir Bowling Club, northern edge of the park

      . Guide and Scout halls (1st Reservoir Scout Hall and Reservoir West Guide Hall)

      . General BBQ and play area, east side of lake

      . Athletics track and athletics pavilion, east side of the lake

      . Pump house, south east corner of the lake

      . Sound stage

      . Locomotive / 'steam engine' [A2 Class No. 964, purchased from Victorian Railways by Preston City Council and placed in the park in 1969]

      . Rose garden, bluestone edging

      . Walking tracks and cycle paths

      . Nesting pontoons within the lake for water birds

      The 'Edwardes Lake Park - a gift well received' report outlines a broad range of current recreational activities, both passive and active (2002).

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Darebin - Darebin Heritage Study

      Author: Context P/L
      Year: 2011
      Grading: Local

Public contributions

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