Traveller safety information

Churchill National Park at Rowville in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs is a remnant of natural bush and an example of the original landscape before clearing and settlement. Although most of the park is open regrowth woodland, there are small areas of original forest. Apart from the access road, there are no other vehicle tracks.

• Oxfam Trailwalker (Fri, 16 Apr 2010)

• Tracks throughout the park are ideal for peaceful walks. Channel Track, running beside the old aqueduct, wanders through a thickly wooded landscape.
• Some of the tracks are also suitable for jogging and cycling, particularly the eastern boundary track.
• There are plenty of spots for birdwatching. One particularly good one is by a dam along the northern boundary track.
• Picnic grounds are provided at the end of the access road.

Parking, toilets, picnic grounds, shelter, gas barbecues, water, walking tracks and bicycle trails are provided.

The area that is now the park was part of the lands of the Bunurong Aboriginal people. Today members of the Wurundjeri community of Melbourne are involved in park management and recovering Aboriginal heritage.

Following the establishment of Melbourne as a European settlement in 1835, the park area became the police corps headquarters for the Native Police in 1837. Later used as grazing land for police horses, it was known for many years as the Police Paddocks.

In the 1920s urban development brought further changes. Local stone was quarried for road metal and building material, a water supply channel was dug to Dandenong and the State Electricity Commission acquired a powerline easement. Fire and clearing of some areas also took their toll.

In 1941 the area was declared Dandenong National Park, and was renamed Churchill (after Sir Winston Churchill) in 1944.

In the 1920s urban development finally brought some changes. Local stone was quarried for road metal and building material, a water supply channel was dug to Dandenong and the State Electricity Commission acquired a powerline easement. Fire and clearing of some areas also took their toll.

In 1941 the area was declared Dandenong National Park, later renamed Churchill National Park (after Sir Winston Churchill) in 1944.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners

Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria

Churchill National Park is an especially significant area for an amazing variety of birdlife. A total of 172 species has been recorded in the parks. The birds are attracted by the different types of food and environments; woodlands,forest, the lake and grassy open spaces. Some of these birds include: parrots, honeyeaters, wrens, thornbills, grebes, pelicans,cockatoos and even the migratory Japanese Snipe.

Parrots and Bell Miners (commonly know as Bellbirds) are probably the most prominent birds.

Take a walk along Bellbird Track and listen to the melodious notes of these birds as they call to other members of their family.

Many of the mammals in the area are active only at night, but if you arrive early or leave at dusk, you may catch a glimpse of a wallaby or kangaroo. Echidnas are also common, foraging around in the daytime looking for ants and grubs in the ground and under the bark of trees. In the Summer Green and Golden Bell-frogs may be found basking in the sun.

Plant life includes 20 different eucalypt species, 14 wattles and 12 native orchids. Wildflowers are abundant in spring. The park is an excellent place to learn how to distinguish some of the common eucalypts and wattles of the Melbourne area.

• Please take your rubbish with you.
• No dogs, cats or firearms.
• No solid fuel fires.
• Leave the park as you find it.

• This park may close on days of Total Fire Ban. Please call Parks Victoria on 13 1963 to confirm if you plan to visit on a day of Total Fire Ban.
• Emergency markers points are located in this park to help pinpoint your exact location in the case of an emergency. In an emergency call 000 and quote the emergency marker code. Further information about emergency markers is available here.

Churchill National Park can be accessed by driving along Churchill Park Drive, Rowville (Melway ref: 82 C11) and continuing to the main gate about 1 km after the Power Road turn-off.

Churchill National Park is open every day of the year. The park opens at 10:00 AM every day, but closing times vary according to daylight savings. For up to date information on park closing times call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.

Picnic Area

The picnic area in Churchill National Park has gas barbecues, picnic tables and shelter. There is also a designated unisex toilet. These facilities have a good level of accessibility. The ground surface in the picnic area is gravel and grass, and is free of obstacles. The site lacks circulation paths.

• Cardinia Reservoir Park
• Dandenong Ranges National Park
• Jells Park
• Lysterfield Park