Melways Ref: 103 A6

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About Bunarong Park: Bunarong Park is named after the Aborigines who originally inhabited the Frankston area, and used the park as a camp site. The park is regionally significant due to the heathland and eucalypt communities it supports. At 90 metres above sea level, the park is one of the highest areas in Frankston, and provides excellent views of Frankston City and Port Phillip Bay.

Flora

Over 100 species of plants, including seven orchids have been identified in the reserve. In the higher parts of the reserve you will find tea tree Heathland. This contains heath tea tree, rushes, dwarf sheokes and a wide variety of small flowering herbs, including orchids. Around the edge of the park you will find low open forest. This vegetation type is dominated by eucalyptus species such as silver leaf stringybarks, swamp gums and common peppermints.

Fauna

The varied vegetation provides an excellent habitat for native birds. Over 50 species have been sighted in the park. These include thornbills, wrens, cuckoos, parrots and honeyeaters. Many birds nest in the forest around the edge of the park and come to the heathland to feed on insects and the nectar provided by the many flowering plants.

Larger mammals, such as the swamp wallaby, are unlikely to still be present in the park as it is now isolated from other remnant vegetation. However, there are still possums and echidnas in the reserve. You may even be lucky enough to see a transient male koala extending his territory.

Management Issues

Pest plants are a major and ongoing problem in the reserve. Plants such as coast tea tree, sallow wattle and sweet pittosporum are colonising the reserve. Coastal tea tree has colonised large sections of the park to the detriment of local vegetation. Before settlement, this plant could only be found on cliff tops or on sand dunes close to the high tide level. It gradually spread inland following destruction of coastal eucalypt and sheoak forests by the early settlers. Other environmental weeds are spread from piles of garden trimmings and lawn clippings dumped over fences.

Vandalism, cats, bushfires and erosion are other problems which must be overcome if the natural character of Bunarong Park is to be retained.

Caring for the Reserve

Council manages this reserve. Limited maintenance work is carried out each year with assistance from various employment creation programs. It is hoped that a ´Friends Group´ can be established.

How You Can Help:

Visitors:

Please keep to the designated tracks as deviation and trampling destroys small plants, disturbs the soil and encourages weeds. Please take your litter home with you.

Local residents:

Please keep your pets out of the reserve. Be selective in what you plant in your own garden. Do not throw garden refuse over the back fence, try mulching it instead.

For further information contact Council´s Conservation Officer on 1300 322 322.

Other Facts:

History

Stone implements found in Bunarong Park in the 1940s indicate this area was once a former camp site of the Bunarong Bulluk clan. The site at which the implements were found has been recorded by the Victorian Archaeological Survey and is listed on their register of archaeological sites.

During the early 1960s the area was earmarked for sand extraction. However, this proposal was opposed by a botanist from Melbourne University, who was very interested in the flora within the area, and established a strong case for the reservation of the park.

Craig Calvert, an interested local naturalist who was concerned with the effects of increased housing development on the flora and fauna found in the area, lobbied for the area to be reserved under the Crown Land Reserves Act (1978). It was declared a park on 17 August 1983.

Facilities and Activities

There are three main walking tracks and several smaller informal 'bush tracks' scattered throughout the park.

Special Features

The heathland at the top of the hill flowers from mid winter to early summer. Enjoy the view at the same time. High points of the park offer excellent views of Frankston and Port Phillip Bay. 

Location and Access

The reserve is located in Frankston just south of Cranbourne Road. The main entry is at the end of Wattle Tree Lane where a small car park is located.