Pioneer Reserve
8 St Helena Road GREENSBOROUGH, BANYULE CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Pioneer Reserve, Greensborough, comprising approximately one hectare of riverfront parkland containing native vegetation and grassed meadow, is significant. Built features in the Reserve, constructed using bluestone from an early bridge once adjacent to the Reserve, are also significant.
How is it significant?
Pioneer Reserve, Greensborough is of historic and social significance to the City of Banyule.
Why is it significant?
Pioneer Reserve, Greensborough is of historic significance as the location of Greensborough's first bridge across the Plenty River, c. 1864 - 1960s. It is historically significant for a shelter, viewing platform, retaining wall and entrance features built from the bridge's massive bluestone arched abutments dismantled between 1974 and 1983. (Criterion A)
Pioneer Reserve is historically significant for its formative association with noted local landscape designer Gordon Ford in 1968, and it is likely that remnant large field stones at the entrance drive to the Reserve remain from his design. (Criterion H)
Pioneer Reserve is of social significance as a passive recreation ground for the local community, affording good access to the Plenty River and adjoining recreation areas of Greensborough Park and Poulter Reserve. (Criterion G)
-
-
Pioneer Reserve - Physical Description 1
Pioneer Reserve is a sheltered, small park of just under one hectare. It has an undulating topography and has ready access to the Plenty River and beyond to Greensborough Park to the west via a concreted walking track.
The Reserve consists largely of native vegetation, including an aged river red gum on the river bank, blackwoods and ironbarks.
Major built structures are the Pioneer Reserve Picnic Shelter, viewing platform, retaining wall along Diamond Creek Road, and entrance structures. These have all been built using the massive bluestone blocks which comprised the two arched abutments of the 1860s bridge over the Plenty River. Many of these blocks show evidence of their original hand working, with tooling markings still clearly visible.
The pine log and bollard structures designed by Gordon Ford in June 1968 do not appear to have survived, perhaps being superseded by the bridge's impressive bluestone blocks which became available for entry drive detailing, retaining walls and viewing platform, in 1983.
The large rock placements shown in Ford's plans for the Reserve may be still in place, lining the entrance to the Reserve.
Heritage Study and Grading
Banyule - Banyule Heritage Review
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2009
Grading: Local
-
-
-
-
-
GREENSBOROUGH 1, SWIMMING POOLVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
ASHMEADBanyule City
-
GREENSBOROUGH CEMETERY (11)Banyule City
-
-