Welcome spring to Parkville

September is my favourite month of the year. 

When I first moved to Parkville from Sydney in 1978 I arrived on a cold August day, drove to Waverley to watch Carlton win in very wet conditions and wondered what I had done leaving the Harbour City! 

Then September arrived, and I fell in love with Melbourne and beautiful Royal Park.

Living on The Avenue I had no idea there was a zoo in the area so imagine my surprise after a few drinks the night before being woken to the roaring of lions! Wandering across the street I discovered the natural beauty of Royal Park.

Gazetted in 1878, the park had been reduced in size from Charles La Trobe’s original vision due to residential development mainly in South Parkville. Over the years Royal Park has been used for many things from government powder magazines to the military establishment of Camp Pell during the Second World War.

For all the many different uses Royal Park has remained a natural and dark park. On September 3, the draft master plan will be presented to the council at their Future Melbourne Committee meeting. Friends of Royal Park, the Royal Park Protection Group and the Parkville Association have requested to review the document prior to it being presented to the council. We are waiting a response to that request. 

Clearly the most contentious issue will be whether the natural beauty remains dark at night! I have often referred to the need for the park to remain unlit as the amazing amount of wildlife in the park does not need disruption.  

In a council election year, sadly we lose our champion of the park, Rohan Leppert. He has been the greatest supporter of Royal Park in so many ways and is a great believer in leaving the park as it is. 

Hopefully new councillors elected in October will understand the need for Royal Park to remain the “lungs” of the city, a natural park which the flora and fauna will continue to make the residents of Melbourne feel at home with nature. Royal Park in spring with native flowers and bushes showing their fresh colours is a sight to behold. 

Melbourne springs are always an incredible experience and Parkville in particular with our tree-lined streets, well-kept gardens, beautiful parklands and the hustle of university students on the streets comes alive. 

We now have been joined by Asher and the team from Trinity College working on the street gardens, they experience the family that is Parkville. As Asher says, everyone stops to say thanks and to chat. The students feel very welcome, and we, of course, are most appreciative of their work! 

We also have the joy of special gardens in the university. It amazes me how many residents are unaware of the System Garden located off Tin Alley at the Royal Parade end. Established in 1856 it is one of the oldest teaching gardens in Australia and spring brings some superb specimens in bloom.

September always puts a spring in my steps and living in beautiful Parkville enhances that. We have an amazing family and friendships both old and new make our suburb so special.

Renewals for the Parkville Association went out in July and the response has never been better. If you have recently arrived in Parkville, get in touch, your committee would love to welcome you to Parkville this spring!

Finally, and, most importantly, my wife’s birthday is in September! •