Redfern Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redfern Park |
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Redfern Park, pictured in 2014
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Elizabeth, Redfern, Chalmers, and Phillip Streets, Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Created | 10 November 1885 |
| Operated by | City of Sydney |
| Open | 24 hours |
| Status | Open all year |
| Official name: Redfern Park and Oval | |
| Type: | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated: | 21 September 2018 |
| Reference #: | 2016 |
| Type: | Place of significance |
| Category: | Aboriginal |
Redfern Park is a special park in Redfern, Australia. It is located where Elizabeth, Redfern, Chalmers, and Phillip Streets meet. This park is important because it is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
The park was designed by an engineer named Charles O'Neill. It officially became a heritage site on September 21, 2018. Redfern Park is a popular place for people to relax, play sports, and connect with their community.
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How Redfern Park Was Made
For a long time, the area where Redfern Park now stands was just swampy land. People called it Boxley's Lagoon. In 1885, the local council decided to turn this swamp into a public park. They bought about 12 acres (5 hectares) of the land.
The park was officially named "Redfern Park" on November 20, 1885. The South Sydney Council became responsible for looking after it. They set up rules for the park in 1887 and hired a caretaker in 1888.
Early Design and Plants
The park was planned to look like a beautiful Victorian-era garden. It had special plants and a careful landscape design. Around 1886, planting began with young trees from the Royal Botanic Gardens.
These trees included large Moreton Bay figs and Canary Island palms. The types of trees chosen showed the favorite plants of the Botanic Gardens' directors at the time.
Charles O'Neill's Plan
The park's layout was designed by Charles O'Neill in 1888. His plan divided the park into two main parts. The southern part was for sports and games. The northern part was a formal garden for people to relax in.
This garden area had many different plants, green lawns, and flower beds. There were also benches, shady paths, and fancy gates. A raised bandstand, where musicians could play, was placed in the middle of the whole park.
The Baptist Fountain
A local resident named John Baptist Jr. gave a special fountain to the park in 1889-1890. He also donated several decorative urns. The Baptist fountain is still there today and has been fixed up recently.
This cast iron fountain was made in England and brought to Australia. It has a unique design with a "boy and serpent" statue. Only a few of these types of fountains still exist in Australia.
Redfern Street Gates
The people of Redfern wanted to show their pride in the new park. They collected money to build grand sandstone gates at the northern entrance. These gates were installed in 1891.
The Redfern Street gates had two white sandstone pillars. They supported beautiful wrought iron gates with a Waratah flower design. The Waratah is the state flower of New South Wales.
A Community Hub
Redfern Park officially opened in 1890. It was a typical Victorian "pleasure ground" with many features. These included lovely gardens, exotic plants, a cricket oval, and a bowling green.
The park also had a bandstand and buildings for sports. From the very beginning, Redfern Park was a place for both fun and sports.
Today, Redfern Park and Oval is a very important meeting place for the Aboriginal community. People come here for events, sports, and to connect with family and friends. It is a central part of the Redfern community.
