Wandinong Sanctuary Wandinong Sanctuary

Wandinong Sanctuary is located in the Melbourne suburb of Blackburn. The entries are on the Northern side of Canterbury Road, near the bus stop at Holland Road, and also at the Eastern side of Ronley Street, between Canterbury Road and Eustace Street.

It was donated to the City of Whitehorse in 1973 by Albert Arthur and Janet Emily Hooke. It was the site of their home for many years. A plaque explaining this will be found in the Sanctuary at the junction of the paths.

In the forecourt on Ronley Street, there are many trees and bushes which were planted to commemorate their grandchildren. Each child has its own special tree and it is designated by a marker with the child's first name and date of birth.

This sanctuary is designed as a place for walking or strolling. There are a few benches to stop and rest. It is not a children's playground. There are no restroom facilities here.

As with all parklands, please use care if you must smoke. We ask that you take your trash with you.

Dogs on lead are allowed. Please do not allow your dog to run free. Also, please clean up after your animal where necessary.

This Sanctuary is a "work in progress". We are continually planting and weeding and working to make this Sanctuary a small haven in our otherwise busy neighbourhood. We ask that you stay on the designated footpaths as many of our plants are planted while they are still small and fragile. Walking on them crushes them.

If you would like to help with the work at Wandinong Sanctuary, please contact the Whitehorse City Council and tell them of your interest. You will be most welcome at our working bees.Notice of Working Bees

Wandinong Sanctuary: My Place

Entering the sanctuary from Windermere Court, Blackburn, the feeling is as though entering a secret garden. The lovely winding pathway wanders through dreamy bushland that evokes Impressionist landscapes and one might even imagine coming upon McCubbin, Condor or Streeton as they captured the beauty of the landscape.

These artists took full advantage of such bushland settings in the 19th century and many of their famous works were painted in and around Blackburn.

Some evidence remains of where the original house stood and a plaque records the donation. The designation of sanctuary is an apt one as walking or strolling the paths it is easy to forget that such a peaceful place is part of a busy neighbourhood .

Whenever I pass by on Canterbury Road I am reminded that this bushland setting is what the whole area once looked like before settlement and subdivision, and that increasingly these tranquil havens are more important than ever.

Wandinong Sanctuary Advisory Committee
Restore and preserve Wandinong as natural bushland.
Phone: 9878 0005

❊ Address ❊

 ⊜  Canterbury Road and Ronley Street Blackburn  View Map

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❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Wandinong Sanctuary 

❊ Also See... ❊

➼ Blackburn Lake & Sanctuary






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