Wittons Reserve

Wittons Reserve. At end of Reserve Rd, Brushy Creek Rd, Lyons Rd. Was there before the Warrandyte State Park was declared (thank you!). There is a canoe launch and a childrens playground, marked separately on Google Maps. But Wittens Reserve itself includes the area around those, picnic tables and the bank of the Yarra. It is also part of the Warrandyte State Park which is incorrectly shown on Google Maps - I will work out how to correct.

Not sure if Wittons Reserve has a definite boundary, if it ever did. Now it is included in the greater Warrandyte State Park area.

Spend many a summer swimming here in the 1960-80s. With family . With friends. With cricket team(s). With squash team(s).

Most used to swim from the little beach next to the car park area, then unmade. Families, who could keep on eye out from the banks. But the more daring, the rascals, and the like, used used to go upstream, crossing Brushy Creek to the rope swing, or further to where there were other spots to lay a towel. The crossing most of the time was a fallen tree log bridge. Some of the time, and I can't remember when, there was no log bridge, instead it was *slippery* stepping stones in the creek - summer only.

Another reason to go upstream past the Brushy Creek junction was its reputation for being amongst the most polluted creeks in Victoria. Not sure how true that was.

Before Reserve Rd was made driving up the hill on the rutted gravel road was something of an adventure. Especially if it happened to rain. Backsliding was known to happen. Hopefully you didn't wind up off the road bogged or bang into a tree. But were ready for a second go.

Brushy Creek also named Barngeong Creek on some of the very old maps. Upstream it goes past Hughes Park, also known at times as Brushy Park, which has a long history back to the 1880s when there was village and a hotel there, and a cricket ground and a makeshift horse racing track. Further upstream it goes past Barngeong Park.

From Witttons Reserve a great walk along the banks of the Yarra then up a hill to Mount Lofty. A "lofty" name indeed, given its 130m height. Great views.

My favourite place in the world with my favourite walk in the world. The views from Mount Lofty of breathtaking and the air is clean.