SkyHigh Mount Dandenong facts for kids
SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is a popular restaurant and lookout spot. It sits right on top of Mount Dandenong in Victoria, Australia. It's a great place to see amazing views!
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Discover SkyHigh Mount Dandenong
SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is located on a very tall mountain. This spot was first used way back in 1861 as a survey point. This means people used it to measure and map the land because it's 633 meters (about 2,077 feet) above sea level. Its high position gives visitors incredible views of the surrounding areas.
A Look Back: SkyHigh's Story
In the 1970s and 1980s, this place was a super famous attraction in Melbourne. Almost everyone in Melbourne knew about it! But by the early 1990s, the site started to get old and run down. What was once a big tourist spot slowly became forgotten. Finally, in 1997, it closed completely.
But don't worry, that wasn't the end! In 2004, a new agreement was made with Parks Victoria. This is the government group that looks after the land. The restaurant and its gardens got a huge makeover, costing $3.5 million! It reopened in December 2004. Its name also changed from "Mount Dandenong Observatory" to the "SkyHigh Mount Dandenong" we know today.
The renovations made many improvements. They built a new balcony upstairs and a much bigger window for viewing. Outside, the land was shaped and new plants were added. This is also when the fun hedge maze started to grow!
Fun Things to See and Do
SkyHigh Mount Dandenong has lots of cool attractions for visitors to enjoy.
The English Garden
The English Garden has grown a lot since it was first planted in 2005. It has winding gravel paths and several wooden bridges. These bridges cross a small stream that was built during the renovations. It's a peaceful place to walk around.
The SkyHigh Maze
The SkyHigh Maze opened in 2007. It was designed by John Connellan. This maze has garden squares built around fountains. It also features a trompe-l'œil, which is a clever painting that looks like it's 3D!
The Giant's Chair
On the front lawn, you'll find the Giant’s Chair. It's a huge wooden chair that's perfect for funny photos!
Amazing Views with Binoculars
On the viewing terrace, you can use special Binoculars. These let you see Melbourne in much greater detail. On clear days, you might even see all the way to Port Phillip Bay and Geelong!
The Kugel Ball
The Kugel ball is a unique sculpture. It's a very large granite ball that floats on a super thin layer of water. You can even turn off the pump, and the spinning ball will stop instantly!
The Australiana Tree
The Australiana Tree is a huge gum tree. After being hit by lightning in 2006, it started to die quickly. But instead of cutting it down, artists carved it! Now it looks like a totem pole with many native Australian animals carved into it.
Images for kids
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View from SkyHigh's lookout
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The SkyHigh Restaurant by night
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Melbourne as viewed from SkyHigh
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Melbourne and its suburbs at night
