Royal Park honoured with the Green Flag

The City Of Melbourne’s welcomes the announcement that our biggest park is among the world’s best, with Royal Park receiving a prestigious Green Flag Award in recognition of its high quality green open spaces, heritage and community value.

The Green Flag Award scheme is awarded by the peak body for parks management, Parks Forum which assesses parks on their look and feel, safety, sustainability, conservation and heritage along with community involvement.

Environment Portfolio Chair Councillor Arron Wood said he was delighted that Royal Park has been recognised with this award and now joins Fitzroy Gardens which received the same accolade last year.

"For a city to have two parks recognised in this way is indeed a great honour. Royal Park is unlike any of our other parks. It is more unruly and less manicured, and its size alone at 160 hectares creates a unique sense of escape for city residents and visitors” he said.

Cr Wood added that while Royal Park had an impressive historic value, it was also Council’s most valuable property asset, worth $307.8 million.

Judges commented that Royal Park is a valuable asset for residents of Melbourne’s city centre, as well as of regional and state importance and is worthy of continued improvement and protection.

"Royal Park was set aside by Charles Latrobe in 1845 and formally granted in 1876 and for well over a century has been embraced by many different codes of sport all year round along with passive recreation from the local community,” Cr Wood said.

Royal Park has many important land marks, it was the departure point for the 1860 Expedition by Burke and Wills, is home to the Melbourne Zoo and housed Australian and American troops during WWII with the Heritage listed Anzac Hall still standing.

Significant trees and plantings from the different historical phases of Royal Park include:

• Trees associated with the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. Many of these trees represent the location of former plantations, planted between c1862–1900. Eucalyptus cladocaylx, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Pinus radiata species are commonly noted.
• Mature and healthy trees, estimated to be planted between c1900–1940. Ficus macrophylla, Eucalyptus maculata are common examples.
• Remnant vegetation sites at Brens Drive and Royal Park west of Grassy Red Gum Woodland.

As part of this award, a green flag will be raised in the park and will remain there until January 2015.

For more information visit City of Melbourne