Muston Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muston ParkNew South Wales |
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![]() King George VI Memorial Grove
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![]() Queen Elizabeth II Grove
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Established | circa 1880 | ||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2067 | ||||||||
Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) | ||||||||
Area | .020186 km2 (0.0 sq mi) | ||||||||
LGA(s) | City of Willoughby | ||||||||
Region | North Shore (Sydney) | ||||||||
County | Cumberland | ||||||||
State electorate(s) | Willoughby | ||||||||
Federal Division(s) | North Sydney | ||||||||
Website | Muston Park | ||||||||
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Muston Park is a lovely green space, about 2 hectares big, located in Chatswood, a suburb just seven kilometres north of Sydney, Australia. It's a great spot for people to relax and enjoy nature.
Contents
The Park's Story
Long, long ago, for at least 5,800 years, the first people of Australia, the Cammeraygal tribe, lived in this area.
The park is named after William Thomas Muston. He was the first European to own this land. He also served as the Mayor of Willoughby in 1890. His house, called 'Penshurst', once stood right in the middle of where the park is now. It was sold in 1921.
From Farmland to Fun
Even in 1938, cows were still grazing in the park area! It was also a place for entertainment. Circuses, like Sole Brother's Circus in 1939 and Wirth's Circus in 1942, performed here. During the Second World War, parts of Muston Park were used by the military.
Special Tree Plantings
In 1952, two special groups of gum trees were planted. The northern part of the park has the King George VI Memorial Grove, made up of beautiful Spotted Gums. In the south, near the children's playground, you'll find the Queen Elizabeth II Grove, which has Lemon Scented Gums. These trees look quite similar. Around the same time, a pretty path called the Wisteria walkway was created.
Park Environment
Muston Park gets about 1200 millimetres (or 47 inches) of rain each year. The soil here is quite good for plants. It's a mix of two types of rock, Hawkesbury sandstone and Ashfield Shale. Originally, this area would have been a thick forest called Blue Gum High Forest. Sadly, none of those original trees are left today.
Oldest Trees in the Park
The oldest trees you can see in Muston Park probably date back to the 1880s. Back then, the park was part of a fun area known as Royal Park. Some of these old trees include:
- a Camphor Laurel
- a Bunya Pine
- a Hoop Pine
- a White Booyong
- a Moreton Bay Fig
- an Oak
Wildlife in the Park
Muston Park is home to many different animals. If you visit, you might spot:
- Pacific Black Ducks swimming
- Loud Sulphur-crested cockatoos flying overhead
- Water dragons basking in the sun
- Brush turkeys scratching around for food