Eltham watering place reserve, MAIN ROAD, ELTHAM

Wingrove Park is primarily significant for its historical value as a place where travellers would stop and camp overnight. It was formerly known as Bremner's Reserve and Gazetted a water reserve. It was also a place where artists would come and paint, Max Meldrum, for instance, rented a house opposite the park in 1921, and loved to paint the surrounding area, which was shown in an early 1920s exhibition. Nowadays the park retains some fine examples of remnant native trees along Diamond Creek, particularly Manna Gums Eucalyptus viminalis, which merit individual protection; some of the Manna Gums have scars of aboriginal origin.

REVISED STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (with AHC criteria)

The Eltham watering place reserve, later Wingrove Park, is significant to Nillumbik Shire:

for its representation of indigenous landscape in the area, particularly the manna gums, and hence the early history of settlement in the area and its use as a watering place for stock (Criterion A4);

- for its long-held association with the nationally prominent Heidelberg School of painters (Criterion G1);

- for its memory to a long-term public servant within the Shire, Wingrove; and

- as the documented focus of environmental action by the noted environmental designer, Alistair Knox, and the local Natural Development Association in the 1980s, highlighting a continuing community concern for indigenous landscape (Criterion A4, H1).

BASIS OF SIGNIFICANCE:

ILLUSTRATION OF THE THEMES: ELTHAM ARTISTS, REMNANT NATIVE VEGETATION

HISTORY

STREETSCAPE

LANDSCAPE

DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE: LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE

REVISED ELTHAM STUDY EXTENT OF DESIGNATION: RESERVE AND INDIGENOUS PLANTING

Group

Parks, Gardens and Trees

Category

Park or Garden Precinct