RESERVE - MERRI PARK SPORTS GROUND
33 ST GEORGES ROAD, NORTHCOTE, DAREBIN CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Merri Park at St Georges Road, Northcote was granted as a park in 1909, and permanently reserved in 1927. Part of the park's permanent reservation was the negotation of use rights with the (then proposed) adjacent Northcote High School. The school continues to use the site today. Improvements were made to the park around 1909, although it is unlikely that any evidence of this phase remains. Later improvements included the construction of a gateway and sign, fronting St Georges Road.
The stone entrance gateway constructed as part of the inter-war improvements to Merri Park is significant.
Later additions, including the recently constructed recreation facilities and landscaping are not significant.
How is it significant?
Merri Park at St Georges Road, Northcote is of local historic significance to Darebin City.
Historically, Merri Park is significant for the historic association of part of the site with the former Inebriates Retreat, operated by Sumner from 1873 to 1891. Historically, Merri Park is also significant as one of the earliest areas acquired by Council for parks and reserves between 1907 and 1933, and for the evidence it provides of Council's objective to provide open space in the interests of the health and recreation of present and future citizens of Northcote, as well as of later programs of beautification that coincided with the jubilee celebrations of the City of Northcote. (AHC criteria A.4, D.2)
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RESERVE - MERRI PARK SPORTS GROUND - Physical Description 1
Merri Park is located on the west side of St Georges Road, adjacent to Northcote High School. It is roughly triangular in shape, its east boundary formed by St Georges Road, north boundary by Sumner Avenue, and the northwest to southeast diagonal boundary formed by Merri Creek.
The entrance to Merri Park is defined on the St Georges Road boundary by a stone gateway with mild steel geometric rails and sign, the detail of which includes the name of the park (in upper case lettering) dating from 1937. A plaque at the base of the southern main pier has the following inscription:
ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF / MERRI PARK SPORTS GROUND / A. V. PETERS. J. P. / MAYOR 1937
The main piers retain remnant fittings which may once have supported lighting. Two symmetrically placed circles on either side of the lettering 'Merri Park' may once have supported the former Northcote Council's crest (as seen at Penders Park). The style, fabric, size and form of the gateway is similar to gateways to other Darebin parks, in particular those within the former City of Northcote, created at a similar time (presumably in association with the 1932-33 jubilee celebrations and coincident beautification programs which gave the city's parks a unified identity (Penders Park, Oldis Gardens, Batman Park, for example), and demonstrating civic pride.
Eucalypts of varying ages for the dominant tree palette of an otherwise relatively open site.
Merri Park now includes sporting facilities and a play area as well as conservation areas along the Merri Creek boundary. The park is used all year by a variety of sporting clubs, including baseball, cricket and AFL Auskick, and by Northcote High School during and after school hours (www.darebin.vic.gov.au).
Heritage Study and Grading
Darebin - Darebin Heritage Study
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2011
Grading: Local
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FORMER LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR HOME FOR THE AGEDVictorian Heritage Register H1950
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TERRACE HOUSESVictorian Heritage Register H1774
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FORMER NORTHCOTE THEATREVictorian Heritage Register H2287
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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'Aqua Profonda' sign wall sign, Fitzroy Swimming PoolYarra City H1687
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'DRIFFVILLE'Boroondara City
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1) WEATHERBOARD FARM HOUSE AND 2) THE OUTBUILDINGSNillumbik Shire
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