Macleay Park

This article is about the park in Melbourne. For the park in Portland, see Forest Park (Portland, Oregon).

Macleay Park
Macleay Park looking east
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Coordinates	37°48′06″S145°04′30″E / 37.80163°S 145.074953°E / -37.80163; 145.074953 Coordinates: 37°48′06″S145°04′30″E / 37.80163°S 145.074953°E / -37.80163; 145.074953
Opened	1923
Operated by	City of Boroondara
Paths	Mix of formal and informal pathways
Terrain	Open ovals surrounded by vegetation
Vegetation	Australian Native
Connecting transport	Bus routes 302 and 304
Facilities	Playground, 3 sports pavilions, baseball pitch, netball courts, barbecues, toilet Soccer pitch, AFL ground

Macleay Park is a park in the suburb of Balwyn North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The western half of the park is also referred to as Myrtle Park. It is situated between Severn St and Buchanan Avenue in a portion of a valley through which the Glass Creek runs, now largely through underground drains. ^[1]

History

In 1923, the Camberwell City Council acquired the land on which the park stands today. ^[2] In its early years, the parkland was known as Myrtle Park. The North Balwyn Cricket Club was established in 1927, ^[3] followed by the North Balwyn Baseball Club in 1937. ^[4]

During the post-war housing boom in Melbourne during the 1950s, the park became increasingly used by the increase in population, including by travelling circuses, ^[5] and the original sporting pavilion was opened in 1962 and rebuilt in 2007. ^[6]

Access

Map of the parklands.

Cars enter the park from one of two separate entrances, either from Belmore Road directly or from Gildan Street. There is no through access between the carparks. Belmore Road features frequent bus services, with both the 302 and 304 routes servicing the park at two stops. A path, crossing Buchanan Avenue to the east, links Macleay Park with Hislop Park through the North Balwyn Tennis Club. There is also pedestrian access from Severn Street in the west, Balwyn High School and Cobham Street to the north, Buchanan Avenue in the east and Belmore Road from the south.

Walking tracks

A number of gravel and informal paths run throughout the park. A primary circuit path follows the boundaries of most ovals which is suitable for walking, jogging or cycling.

Sporting clubs

There are nine sporting clubs which use the park: ^{[7] [8]}

• Balwyn Saints Cricket Club
• Balwyn Blasters Junior Cricket Club
• North Balwyn Cricket Club
• North Balwyn Baseball Club
• St Barnabas Cricket Club
• Boroondara Cricket Club
• Melbourne Baseball Club
• Boroondara Netball Association
• Boroondara Eagles Football Club

Complaints from nearby residents about sporting activities and facilities in the park have sparked controversy in recent years, including the installation of netball courts and sportsground lighting. ^[9]

See also

• Hislop Park
• Greythorn Park
• Balwyn North

References

1. "Stormwater Environment Management Plan". City of Boroondara. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
2. "North Balwyn: the Sleeping Giant" (PDF). Balwyn Historical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
3. "NBCC:History". North Balwyn Cricket Club. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
4. "NBBC Myrtle Park". North Balwyn Baseball Club. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
5. "BHS Newsletter June 2013" (PDF). Balwyn Historical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
6. "NBCC:History". North Balwyn Cricket Club. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
7. "Macleay and Myrtle Parks". City of Boroondara. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
8. "BNA - Competitions". Boroondara Netball Association. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
9. "Balwyn North homeowners go into bat with Boroondara over park lighting". Progress Leader. Retrieved 19 August 2014.