Woodlands Historic Park & Homestead Woodlands Historic Park & Homestead

Woodlands Historic Park totals over 700 hectares (1730 acres). It was first established as a public park in 1980 and contains many physical links to the landscape of the settlers in the 1840s, including the restored Woodlands Homestead.

The park contains valuable remnants of the most southerly Victorian extent of grassy woodland open forest.

Woodlands Homestead

Woodlands Homestead, located at Woodlands Historic Park, is a unique and treasured part of Victoria's heritage. Established in 1843, it is a rare example of a large pre-constructed timber kit house brought to Australia from Britain.

Today, the Woodlands Homestead houses an extensive art collection, various collections of historic artifacts, including The McCracken Collection, plus horse racing memorabilia associated with our Living Legends. Or perhaps you would prefer to explore features of Woodlands Homestead itself.

Because of its significance, Woodlands Homestead is listed with Heritage Victoria. Woodlands Historic Park also contains ruins of two other 19th century homesteads, Cumberland and Dundonald. Living Legends is committed to maximizing the benefits of all that Woodlands Homestead and the Woodlands Historic Park has to offer for all Victorians and visitors from across Australia and around the world.

Woodlands Historic Park gives visitors a fascinating glimpse of the landscape seen by settlers in the 1840's .

First established as a public park in 1980, it now totals over 700 ha. It contains significant cultural and natural values which have endured many of the changes resulting from Melbourne's urban spread.

Things to Do

-:- Visit Woodlands Homestead, an 1840s 'kit-home'. Hosts will provide interesting accounts of its many owners over the years.
-:- Enjoy a picnic among the magnificent River Red Gum trees at the Somerton Road picnic area.
-:- Explore the 1.5 km Moonee Ponds Creek Nature Walk.
-:- Wander through the fenced 'Back Paddock' and see kangaroos, birds and other wildlife.
-:- Walk up Gellibrand Hill (204 m). Explore the granite boulders and enjoy panoramic views.
-:- Find out more about guided walks, spotlight strolls and more.
-:- Sign up with the Friends of Woodlands Historic Park Inc. and assist our rangers on a variety of projects.
-:- Jog or ride a bike or horse along the tracks.
-:- View kangaroos in their natural surroundings.

Facilities

-:- Picnic tables, water, toilets and electric barbeques are available at Somerton Road picnic grounds.
-:- Walking, horse and bicycle riding tracks.
-:- Baby changing facilities.

Heritage

Emigrating from Ireland with his family to seek a healthier climate, William Pomeroy Greene, a former Royal Navy officer, moved into the newly erected Woodlands Homestead on 9 June 1843. The historic Woodlands Homestead is a rare example of an early prefabricated building. It was designed in Britain, probably for export to India. Its association with early pioneering families make it significant to the early settlement of the Port Phillip District. It is surrounded by gardens that have now been restored. Magnolias at the Homestead are the oldest recorded garden plants in Victoria. Woodlands Homestead and its outbuildings and gardens were extensively restored in 1983 and 1984.

The Woodlands Historic Park also contains scarred trees and surface scatters, 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.

The park also contains the ruins of two other 19th century homesteads, Cumberland and Dun Donald.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners

Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.

Fauna

A 400 ha section of the park, the 'Back Paddock', was fenced in 1987 as a Nature Reserve to protect native wildlife from dogs, cats and foxes. The endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot was re-established here in 1988 and this colony is playing a major role in securing the species' future. Sightings of Eastern Grey Kangaroos are a certainty; you may also see echidnas, skinks and Eastern Blue-tongue lizards basking in the sun.

Where is Woodlands Homestead?

Living Legends is based at Woodlands Homestead in Woodlands Historic Park, only 6 minutes north of Melbourne Airport and about 20 km north-west of the Melbourne city centre (Melway Map: 177 Ref: H9). To reach Woodlands Homestead, either drive in at the main entrance on Oaklands Road, or walk from the Somerton Road picnic area.

How to Get There

The park is a 20 km drive from the centre of Melbourne and is immediately north of Melbourne Airport. Park entrances are off Somerton Road (Melway ref: 178 C6) and Oaklands Road for Woodlands Homestead (Melway ref: 177 J9) and Providence Road (Melway ref: 178 F10).

From Melbourne CBD

We are just 21 km from the Melbourne CBD. Follow the Tullamarine Freeway and turn right into Oaklands Road. There is plenty of car parking space available at Living Legends.

Horse Riding

Parking for horse floats is located in the Somerton Road Picnic Area. Then ride your horse, or walk, through the Woodlands Historic Park to Living Legends.

From the Airport

Living Legends is only 6 minutes from Melbourne Airport via Car, Taxi or Uber.

❊ What's On ❊

➼ Woodlands Historic Park | Open Hours

➼ Woodlands Trail Riding - Explore Melbourne's Backyard on Horseback

➼ Living Legends | Home of Retired Champion Horses Tours

❊ Address ❊

 ⊜  Oaklands Road, Greenvale 3059 View Map

---

❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Woodlands Historic Park & Homestead 

➼ www.livinglegends.org.au

➼ www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

❊ Also See... ❊

➼ Horses Wine And Beer: Best of Melbourne Tour

➼ Living Legends | Champion Horse Rest Home

➼ Woodlands Trail Riding - Explore Melbourne's Backyard on Horseback






Update Page