379. Gardiners Creek - Blackburn to East Malvern 13km

 U3A Hike No 379




Hike Report by Don Moss

Gathering at Southern Cross

Ten of us met at Southern Cross Station on a perfect spring day, ready to catch the Metro line to Blackburn. What initially sounded like a simple suburban walk — crossing multiple highways — turned out to be a delightful surprise that far exceeded expectations.

A Personal Connection to Blackburn

Blackburn, where I grew up, has managed to retain its leafy charm. The interconnected parks along Gardiners Creek remain a hidden gem, offering a green corridor through the suburbs.

Setting Off

We began our walk along Railway Road, turning south onto Blackburn Road — a name that reflects the straightforward naming conventions of the past! Along the way, we passed the church where I was (first) married — a nostalgic moment. Soon, we entered the park where the creek emerges from underground, having flowed from Blackburn Lake to the east.

Nature in the Suburbs

The sealed trail meandered through bushland parks filled with Box, stringybark, and other eucalypts. Despite crossing major roads like Middleborough Road, Canterbury Road, and Burwood Highway, the surroundings remained remarkably peaceful. Birdlife was abundant: Bellbirds (a Blackburn hallmark), Noisy Miners (quiet for once), Kookaburras (not laughing today), and frogs in the wetlands — notably the Pobblebonk or Eastern Banjo frogs.

Echoes of the Past

We encountered several historical markers, including tributes to Australian impressionist painters like Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin, who once painted scenes along this very creek. This area was once home to the Box Hill painting school before it moved to Heidelberg. The park also borders sites of historical significance, including a former deaf school, a children’s orphanage, and the old Burwood Teachers College, now part of Deakin University.

Community in Action

A highlight was seeing local volunteers hard at work removing invasive weeds and restoring native vegetation along the trail — a heartening sight that added to the sense of community stewardship.

Who Was Gardiner?

The creek’s namesake, Gardiner, was a pastoralist who settled in the area in 1836 and passed away nearly 50 years ago. One wonders whether the creek might one day reclaim its Indigenous name — KooyongKoot, meaning “haunt of the waterfowl.”

Final Stretch

As we neared the end of our journey, we joined the Anniversary Trail, which follows the path of the old railway line to Alamein. Even near the Monash Freeway, the bushland muffled the traffic noise, preserving the tranquility. We crossed the overpass, reached East Malvern Station, and caught the train back to the city.

A Walk to Remember

In total, we covered 13.5 km through beautifully preserved bushland parks, perfect for walkers and cyclists alike. Huge thanks to Gordon and Andrew for organising such a memorable outing — an absolute winner!


Photos by Andrew Parker








































LINKS




Comments

  1. Anonymous2 November 2025 at 18:33

    A wonderful description, thanks Don, ( I would have loved to have been there. My brother is much better and I hope to rejoin the group very soon
    Regards Myra Trudgen

    ReplyDelete

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