Woodlands Historic Park
Woodlands Historic Park provides a fascinating glimpse of the landscapes and wildlife seen by European settlers in the 1840s. The park has a 150-year old homestead, Indigenous canoe trees, native woodland and grassland. The fenced Back Paddock is a great spot to see kangaroos, birds and other wildlife. Plan a picnic, walk or bike ride. Explore this fascinating relic of the landscape that European settlers saw in the 1840s. Woodlands Homestead offers a rare example of a large pre-fabricated timber house brought to colonial Australia from Britain.Enjoy a picnic among the magnificent River Red Gums at the Somerton Road Picnic Area. Electric barbecues, tables and toilets are available. The many tracks throughout the park cater for all trail enthusiasts including walkers, cyclists and horse riders. In particular the Murrup Gurrong Yan (Spiritual Creek Walk), 2.5km trail starting across the footbridge from Somerton Road Picnic Area should not be missed.
Just in front of the Homestead are real Living Legends! Established to bring retired champion horses back to the public, the front paddocks are home to some of Australia's finest retired racehorses, including Fields of Omagh, Might and Power, Brew, Better Loosen Up, Rogan Josh, Doriemus, and Paris Lane. Experience the wilder parts of the park away from Woodlands Homestead via the Back Paddock. Cycle or walk as you search for kangaroos, birds and other wildlife. Please remember to close the gates as this is a site for a recovery program for the threatened Eastern Barred Bandicoot.
Scarred trees and surface stone tool scatters are evidence of the Woiworung Aboriginal people, who lived in the area before Europeans arrived. The descendants of the Woiworung still retain a close identity with the land around Melbourne.
European settlement of the Port Phillip District began soon after the arrival of settlers from Tasmania in 1835. Emigrating from Ireland with his family to seek a healthier climate, William Pomeroy Greene, a former Royal Navy officer, was entitled to a land grant of one square mile, and chose a site on Moonee Ponds Creek. The family moved in to the newly erected Woodlands Homestead on 9 June 1843. Woodlands Homestead is a rare example of a large pre-fabricated timber house brought out from Britain. It has been faithfully restored, and a stroll through the house, stables and gardens today gives an evocative insight into the daily life of the original inhabitants. The park also contains the ruins of two other 19th century homesteads, Cumberland and Dundonald.
Opening hours: Woodlands Historic Park is open to vehicles daily from 9.00am to 4.30pm. Pedestrian access is 24 hours. Daylight saving opening hours will apply at weekends only from 4 October 2015 to 3 April 2016. On weekends the gates will be open from 9.00am - 6.00pm.
Woodlands Homestead is open 7 days a week from 10am - 4pm (except Christmas Day). Devonshire tea and coffees are available.
Gellibrand Hill: Explore the granite boulders and enjoy a 360 degree view to the city skyscrapers, the bay, the Great Dividing Range, suburbs spreading out in every direction and busy Melbourne Airport across the road. The return walk takes just under 2 hours.
Location: Providence Road, Greenvale, Vic. Woodlands is only 22km from the city, just north of Melbourne Airport. Follow the Tullamarine Freeway and turn right into Oaklands Road (Melways 177 J9) or walk from the Somerton Road Picnic Area (Melways 178 C6). Access to Gellbramd Hill is via walking tracks from Somerton Road Picnic Area, Woodlands Homestead and the carpark off Providence Road. (Melways 178 F10).
