Parks

EVATT PARK

In 1951 a section of Webbs Gardens was reserved as Open Space (Recreational Purposes) under the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme. This was a far sighted move, as most of Lugarno was open space at the time. As the land was not resumed at this time the park remained a proposal and a mark on the map.

In 1963 the land was sold to Shirley Constructions Pty. Ltd., and it appeared to local residents that it would become a housing estate, and Lugarno would never have a park. Agitation for the park began, and continued until 1965 when the residents, the Lugarno Progress Association and Hurstville Council were successsful in having the area resumed by the State Planning Authority on the 21st July, 1965. Hurstville Council became the trustee and administrator of the park which was about 25 acres in area.

The development of playing fields was the next step. As a market garden the land had retained its natural slope from Forest Road down to the river. A Council proposal to level the area using garbage as land fill was opposed by residents, and instead the playing fields were carved out of the hill by bulldozers.

All candidates for the 1965 Hurstville Council election promised the development of the park, and a Council bulldozer appeared on the spot just before the election - only to dissapear after the election. In December 1965 the area was named the H. V. Evatt Park after the eminent lawyer, historian, and Labor leader who was a Member of Parliament for the electorate of Barton.

The park remained undeveloped for several years. The Council was asked to fill in their test bores as small children had to be rescued from the deep holes. Horses grazed, and local residents picked blackberries, or fished for carp in the dam.

The Lugarno-Peakhurst Soccer Club prepared a practice football field in 1967, then in 1968 Hurstville Council provided three playing fields and a parking area.

In October 1969 the Lugarno Public School was able to hold its sports carnival in Lugarno for the first time. Temporary toilets, and a water supply were provided for the event.

The Lugarno Progress Association publication "This is Lugarno" of June 1971 reported "Hurstville Council has now provided three playing fields, two basketball courts, and a large car parking area Three clubs, Lugarno-Peakhurst Soccer Club, Lugarno-Peakhurst Rugby Club and Lugarno Sports Club (formerly Lugarno Rugby League Sports Club) have winter ground allocations, whilst girls basketballteams utilize the netball courts. St. George Athletic Association is to use the fields during summmer." In October 1972 it was reported that the newly formed St. George Little Athletics Club used the grounds, and that Hurstville Council had set out running tracks. A toilet block was opened in May 1973.

The Lugarno Lions Club constructed a rockery and entrance gardens in December 1974, and a childrens playground area.

Cricket practice nets were constucted in the old quarry area in 1978, jointly funded by Hurstville Council, the Lugarno Progress Association and the Lugarno Sports Cricket Club.

During 1977 the Hurstville Council proposed building two more playing fields at the lower end of the park, including the old dam. The Lugarno Progress Association opposed the plan, and called a public meeting in August 1977 which agreed that the area should be kept for passive recreation. The Lugarno Progress Association and Hurstville Council commissioned Environmental Landscapes Pty. Ltd. to draw up a development plan.

This plan is the basis for works undertaken in 1984 by Hurstville Council using funds provided under the Community Employment Program, and the N.S.W. Department of Environment and Planning Green Space Program. Council Comment of February 1984 describes the plan as "An ornamental lake for ducks and waterbirds with a viewing jetty of logs... The old overgrown dam has been dredged and levee banks created, all to be planted with willows and landscaped. Picknickers will find barbecues, picnic furniture and landscaped walking trails in the newly refurbished park. A small man made stream will run through the area, feeding from the lake."

Hurstville Council commissioned the National Trust to carry out a bushland survey of the Municipality in 1981. The report of the National Trust regarding Evatt Park pointed out the importance of the natural bush section of the park.

MOONS AVENUE RESERVE

The mangrove swamp, abnout twenty acres in area below Moons Avenue, is now a park in a fairly natural state, controlled by the Georges River National Park Trust. However proposals were made over the years for this area to be filled with sand dredged from the river and made into playing fields. Before the aquisition of Evatt Park, the Moons Avenue Reserve was regarded as an alternative, although serious problems of access were recognized.

In 1965 the Georges River National Park Trust proposed to reclaim this area, and Hurstville Municipal Council voted £2,000 towards this work, however permission to dredge could not be obtained, and the plan was shelved. The Chief Secretary's Department objected to dredging from a nearby sandbank because of possible damage to zestora weed beds and the whiting population, and a proposal to dredge was again rejected in 1967, even though the Georges River National Park Trust had $12,000 and equipment available for the dredging of the river and filling the Moons Avenue Reserve.

In 1969 Alderman Lawrence proposed an access road from Cedar Street be built, and paid for by a grant from the Captain Cook Bicentenary Committee, however the Committee rejected the idea.

With the development of Evatt Park, and increasing awareness of the value of mangroves in the ecology of the river, the Moons Avenue Reserve has been left alone.

In October 1971 the Progress Association opposed a Lands Department proposal for the commercial removal of sand, as they did not want trucks loaded with sand on Lugarno streets.

CEDAR STREET RESERVE

The Cedar Street Reserve was prepared and planted by the Hurstville Municipal Council in 1976, and was extended by 3,300 sq. ft. at a cost of $6,000 in 1979.

TAYLOR'S RESERVE

This L-shaped reserve runs between Lime Kiln Road and Woodlands Avenue, Lugarno. Initially it was referred to as the Lime Kiln Road Reserve, however in mid 1963 Council erected a sign proclaiming that the park was to be known as Taylor's Reserve. It was named in honour of Mr. Taylor of Woodlands Avenue, who donated most of the land to the Council, together with Mr. Tomlinson of Lime Kiln Road, who was formerly an alderman.

The 1st Lugarno Scout Group began work on their Scout Hall in August 1962, and occupied it in July 1963.

Council promised works for the levelling, top dressing, and fertilizing of the reserve to prepare it as a playing field in December 1962, although Council realized that the field would be small. The field was used for soccer practice from June 1964.