Grevillea Park

The place to appreciate Walter Burley Griffin's East Basin

• Location
• Facilities
• History
• A park linked to Walter Burley Griffin's plan
• Designed to emphasise the indigenous landscape
• The park to enjoy the waters of east basin
• Reference
  

Location

Accessible via Morsehead Drive, Russell.

• A map showing Inner North Canberra with the location of Grevillea Park marked.
• A map of Grevillea Park.

Facilities

Boat ramp, parking areas. The water is not suitable for swimming.

History

Grevillea Park is located on the northern shore of East Basin, one of the three basins at the focal point of Walter Burley Griffin's prize-winning plan for Canberra. The park has pleasant views across the lake to Jerrabomberra Wetlands, the suburb of Kingston and Parliament House. It is a place to enjoy magnificent sunsets. Located in the park is a restaurant which capitalises on these views. With its boat-ramp and shelving sandy beach the park provides easy access and parking for recreation boating (power boats prohibited).

A park linked to Walter Burley Griffin's plan

Walter Burley Griffin attached the names of Australian indigenous flora to key places on his 1918 plan for Canberra. One of these places was "Grevillea Place" on the southern shore of East Basin, however this name was lost in the late 1920s. In 1963 when Lake Burley Griffin was under construction, the name was resurrected. The gazette naming the park, stated that the genus Grevillea comprised 'about 240 known species of trees and shrubs, widespread in Australia'.

There is another connection to Griffin's plan for Canberra. The eastern boundary of the park abuts the line of Griffin's proposed Causeway, which was to hold back the waters of East Lake, the yet to be built upper lake of his innovative lake scheme.

Designed to emphasise the indigenous landscape

Development of the park was initiated in the early 1960s by the National Capital Development Commission. The informal planting design utilised predominantly mixed species of eucalypts and wattles thereby linking the landscape to the nearby Mt Pleasant. There are pleasant grassed openings within the indigenous landscape which can be enjoyed by large groups of people. Poplars and willows and other deciduous trees are planted adjacent to the water's edge.

In other development, emphasis has been placed on provision of access for lake and lakeside recreation. Parking areas are provided, while good pedestrian and cycle access is available. The sandy beach and boat ramp ensure good access for boats. Model boats utilise the area. In recent times the park has become a favoured venue for meetings of enthusiasts interested in displaying motor cars (subject to Public Place approvals - phone 6207 7139). There are no barbecues and the water is not suitable for swimming.

The park to enjoy the waters of east basin

Grevillea Park is a popular place at weekends for young people and families. Boats can be launched (power boating is prohibited). The area is popular for group and family picnics.

Reference

Gray, J (1997) The Historical and Cultural Background of Selected Urban Parks in Canberra - Volume 2.