Wilson Botanic Park facts for kids
- This article refers to a botanic gardens in Australia. For the Wilson Botanical Gardens in Costa Rica, see Las Cruces Biological Station.
Wilson Botanic Park is a special kind of park called a botanic garden. It is located on Princes Highway in Berwick, a town in Victoria, Australia. Botanic gardens are places where many different types of plants are grown and studied.
Contents
The Park's Interesting History
From Quarry to Green Space
The land where Wilson Botanic Park now stands was once a large hole in the ground called a quarry. From 1859 to 1976, a family named Wilson used this quarry to dig up "blue metal," which is a type of rock used for building roads. After many years, the Wilson family gave this 100-acre (39-hectare) piece of land to the community.
Ancient Forest Discoveries
When workers were first digging in the quarry, they found something amazing: parts of an old, old forest that had turned into fossils! Scientists later studied these fossils. They discovered that 22 million years ago, this area was covered by a warm, tropical forest. These fossils even included the oldest known fossils of Eucalyptus trees, which are famous Australian trees.
Opening the Botanic Park
The local government, called the City of Casey, started turning the old quarry into a botanic garden in 1988. It took four years to get everything ready. The park was officially opened in 1992 by the Governor-General, who is like a representative of the King or Queen in Australia.
Exploring Wilson Botanic Park
Lakes and Lookouts
The park has two main lakes that were once parts of the old quarry. The biggest one is called "Anniversary Lake." There is also a smaller lake called "Basalt Lake." This lake has a tall, rocky cliff made of basalt on one side and a wooden walkway on the other. You can also find a small marshy area near the park's entrance.
If you like views, you can walk up a steep path to the "Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower." From here, you can see far across the nearby towns. There's another good viewing spot called "Ben's Lookout."
Fun Things to Do and See
Wilson Botanic Park has many things for visitors to enjoy. There's an information centre where you can learn more about the park. An amphitheatre is a great place for outdoor performances. Kids can play at the playground. There's also an education room for learning activities. If you love birds, you can visit the bird hide to watch them without disturbing them. The park also has places for barbecues, shelters, and round, open buildings called rotundas where you can relax.
Getting There by Bike or Foot
The Hallam Bypass Trail is a path that runs right past the park's entrance along the Princes Highway. This trail makes it easy for cyclists and pedestrians (people walking) to get to the park safely.
Plants and Collections
Wilson Botanic Park is home to a wide variety of plants. You can see many different kinds of trees and shrubs, both those native to Australia and those from other parts of the world. The park also has a beautiful rose garden. About 10% of the plants in the park have labels, so you can learn their names and where they come from.
