Churchill National Park

Churchill National Park
Coordinates: 37 ° 57 ′ 5 ″  S , 145 ° 15 ′ 37 ″  E
Location:	Victoria , Australia
Specialty:	Eucalyptus forest
Next city:	Dandenong
Surface:	2.71 km²
Founding:	1941

The Churchill National Park is a national park in the southern Australian state of Victoria , 31 kilometers southeast of the center of Melbourne . It is located in the Lysterfield South district , 5 km northeast of Dandenong . It is connected to Lysterfield Lake Park and both parks together cover an area of ​​16.68 km².

Churchill National Park offers loose eucalyptus forest with lots of animals in it. There are many hiking trails, e.g. B. the Channel Track , surrounded by dense forest on the old aqueduct, or the Eastern Boundary Track , which is particularly recommended for cyclists and joggers. Bird watching is highly recommended in Churchill National Park; a good observation point is the dam along the Northern Boundary Track .

history

Today's Churchill National Park used to be the location of the police headquarters and provided pasture for the police horses. Later the area was called Police Paddocks . In the 1920s, urban development changed the area: quarries for road construction were opened, a supply canal to Dandenong was dug and the State Electricity Commission received approval for a high-voltage line. Forest fires and deforestation did the rest. In 1941 the area was declared Dandenong National Park (not to be confused with Dandenong Ranges National Park ) and in 1944 it was renamed Churchill National Park (after Sir Winston Churchill ).

fauna

The national park is known for its 173 species of birds, e. B. the maned goose or the eyebrow duck . Most mammals are nocturnal, so it is advisable to come early or go late so that with luck you can see some, e.g. B. Echidna , wallabies or kangaroos . The Echidna are also diurnal and search for ants and larvae in the earth.

Facilities

The picnic area offers a gas grill, toilets, and a shelter. It is at the end of the access road.

Web links

• Churchill National Park . Parks Victoria

Individual evidence

1. ^ Steve Parish: Australian Touring Atlas . Steve Parish Publishing Pty. Ltd. Archerfield QLD (2007). ISBN 978174193232-4 . P. 49