We love Centennial Parklands, however we need your support to ensure it is safe, accessible and enjoyable for all. Our Share the Park campaign is underway, and we are receiving some great support from our neighbours at the City of Sydney with their Share the Path initiative. If you cycle through the Parklands, we encourage you to stop off for a cuppa and a chat.
Campaign poster
Like the City of Sydney, we want to encourage responsible cycling in Sydney for recreational and commuter cyclists alike.
Over the coming weeks we are welcoming the City of Sydney cycling team to come into the Parklands and set up a great cycling stop-off point where you will enjoy safe cycling tips, maps, maintenance checks and free hot beverages.
When and where are they in Centennial Parklands?
Tuesday 30 April – From 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm at Federation Place, near Federation Way (corner of Anzac Parade and Lang Road)
Tuesday 14 May – From 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm at Anzac Parade, near Moore Park Road (on the grass between the Shared Path and the Bus Roadway fence)
Thursday 16 May – From 7.30 am to 9.00 am at Cleveland Street outside Moore Park Golf
Tuesday 4 June – From 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm at Federation Place, near Federation Way (corner of Anzac Parade and Lang Road)
Tuesday 11 June – From 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm at Anzac Parade, near Moore Park Road (on the grass between the Shared Path and the Bus Roadway fence)
The inaugural East Side Ride is being held in Centennial Park on Sunday 21 April 2013. Cycling, green living and live music – a place to learn, to experience and to be entertained.
Here’s a quick guide to help you find all the information you’ll need to enjoy this event:
Of course, it’s far more convenient to get all this information in one place by downloading our iPhone app!
OK, so that’s the basics. What about a bit more of the detail of the event…
Free yoga sessions – starts 9.30am!
Come along for a free yoga session with the experienced yoga instructors from the House of Yoga. All you need to bring is your own mat. Everybody’s welcome.
It’s all part of the House of Yoga’s active participation in the community. Proceeds from their Vinyasa Flow classes go to a local charity, and artists are encouraged to display their work at the House of Yoga in Redfern. Multi-instrumentalist, Jake Meadows, will provide beautiful background music to the yoga session. Jake plays harp and guitar as well as sings and has performed with the likes of Angus and Julia Stone and Silverchair.
Learn more about the live music…
While DJs from Eastside FM will be providing music throughout the morning, the live music begins at midday on the live stage. Here’s some Youtube clips of some of the acts that will be playing on the day (in order of appearance on stage)…
Love’s Like A River – Lily Dior
Promo video – King Tide
Heaven on Earth – D.I.G. (Directions in Groove)
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Want to know what’s on when in Centennial Parklands? Want a map that will tell you where you are in the Parklands? Want to know when the gates of Centennial Park will close? Want to know where is the nearest place to get a coffee?
Late last year we told you a story about our donation of more than 50 bicycles, scooters and other equipment to the charity, Life Without Barriers. An article appeared in this week’s Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser updating the story and providing completion of a successful and heartwarming project.
A quick bit of background…
Two lucky kids came to Centennial Park to pick out their bikes and help with the handover!
Every year Centennial Parklands collects a lot of lost property, or left items, that remain unclaimed. After holding items for 6 to 12 months (depending on the type of item), we then dispose of items appropriately. On this occasion, we had a large collection of bicycles and scooters which had remained in our back storage for 12 months. Some were in good condition, some in deteriorating or poor condition.
How to best dispose of items is always a challenging decision. We view landfill disposal as the last resort option, so began a hunt to find a good cause and a new home for the many bikes and scooters. This year we came across the organisation, Life Without Barriers. Their work and their cause seemed to fit the bill, so we contacted them.
The Life Without Barriers team were delighted, however were not able to collect, clean and repair any items that were not in top condition.
We needed some help!
Step forward the bankers!
Some generous staff from ANZ Bank came to the Parklands and cleaned the bikes and scooters for us (read about it here). The handover of the bikes, scooters and equipment was then organised, with good condition items finding immediate homes.
What of the equipment that needed some restoration?
Step forward the Airds/Bradbury Men’s Shed! Instead of telling you about it, you can read the Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser article below:
Article from Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser (F2 network)
Our thanks!
We are delighted that this project has now been completed, and a difference has been made in the lives of some of our youngest and most vulnerable kids. We would like to thank the following groups and organisations for their part in this project:
Lost an item of property in Centennial Parklands? We have repatriated hundreds of items with their owners annually. If you lose an item in Centennial Parklands, the first advice is to (if you haven’t left the Parklands) retrace your steps or place that you were sitting.
Secondly, phone or visit the Parklands Office or Visitor Information Counter in Centennial Park. We can then reunite you with your possession if they are handed in by other park visitors or found by Parklands Rangers.
Conservation Volunteers Australia has now vacated the Ranger’s Residence in Centennial Park and completed its move to the Parklands Depot. The Ranger’s Residence will now remain vacated until planning begins on its future use.
Backstory #1: What is Conservation Volunteers Australia?
Conservation volunteers working on a pond restoration project in Centennial Park, 2012
Conservation Volunteers Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that has partnered with individuals, businesses and governments in the conservation of Australia’s unique environment since 1982. They believe in a healthy and sustainable environment, and for everyone to be involved in managing and protecting that environment.
Since late 2010, Conservation Volunteers Australia has leased the Ranger’s Residence in Centennial Park as its NSW Head Office, and has delivered environmental volunteer projects across the Parklands and around NSW. Last year alone, Conservation Volunteers Australia delivered almost 900 hours of volunteer work in Centennial Parklands (see previous posts here and here), and have recently launched a Green Health initiative in Moore Park.
In an agreement with the Parklands, Conservation Volunteers Australia vacated the Ranger’s Residence at the completion of their lease period and have moved into newly refurbished office space within the Parklands Depot. This move will better allow us to consolidate and coordinate our volunteer activities across the Parklands.
Backstory #2: What is the Ranger’s Residence?
The Ranger’s Residence is a large family home, built on an elevated position on the western boundary of the park, with sweeping views across the park.
The cottage’s aspect, combined with its position adjacent to the Martin Road entrance gates, suggests that the role of the Head Ranger was both gatekeeper and surveillance.
The Centennial Park Ranger’s Residence backs onto Martin Road
Here’s a quick timeline history:
1898: plans for ‘a cottage’ were signed off by NSW Government Architect, Walter Vernon. The cottage was to replace an older building that occupied the site which had previously been condemned as unfit for further habitation.
c1899: The Ranger’s Cottage at Centennial Park was built as accommodation for the Head Ranger (and family) in c1899. The Department of Public Works Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 1899 recorded that £215 pounds had been spent in this financial year on erecting the cottage, but that it remained incomplete. The following year, the Department’s Annual Report recorded that £739 12s and 1d had been expended to complete the building.
Early-1900s: front verandah added to the building (exact date is unknown), perimeter fence and garage at rear also added during this time.
1971: significant renovations carried out by Department of Public Works including the installation of a new bathroom (replacing the pantry), demolition of the existing bathroom, a new kitchen, and resetting of posts and slabs on the front porch.
1989: the existing garage to the rear of the cottage was built by the Department of Public Works, with a terra-cotta tile roof to match the residence.
2000: the roof tiles of the Residence were replaced due to damage caused by the severe hailstorms of 1999.
2007: the last Park Ranger moved out of the Ranger’s Residence (the building had been occupied continuously by a park ranger from c1899 until 2007).
2010: major refurbishment completed and perimeter fence reinstated; Conservation Volunteer Australia lease the building for office space.
2013: Conservation Volunteer Australia vacate the building, which will remain vacant while a future use is determined.
What will be the future of this building?
In mid-2013 we will be commencing the Centennial Park Master Plan process. The future use and adaption of the Ranger’s Residence will be considered as part of this process. As a self-funded public parklands, our objective will be to create a sustainable revenue stream from the building to help support the management and maintenance of the whole Parklands.
Conservation Volunteers Australia is currently seeking community support for its Green Health project in Moore Park. See here for all the details. Go on, get your hands dirty and help make these Parklands beautiful!
Today is International Volunteer Day – a day to celebrate and promote the role of volunteerism in our communities. Last year, we clocked up an amazing 9,257 volunteer hours on projects across Centennial Parklands – almost doubling our volunteer hour contributions over the past two years!
Volunteers are often the lifeblood of many community organisations, and we are no different. We value our volunteers and want to recognise them again through highlighting a collection of our favourite blog posts on volunteering in Centennial Parklands to date.
If you missed them, or are new to the blog, this is a great cross-section of what’s possible and what’s inspirational about our volunteers – often the unsung heroes!
We could go on and on, but we’ll stop there. We hope that we’ve shared some behind-the-scenes stories with you and you – like us – have a deep appreciation for the role of volunteering in Centennial Parklands.
While most of our volunteer programs are currently full, if you want to make an enquiry about corporate volunteering, visit the Centennial Parklands Foundation’s website. Alternately, Conservation Volunteers Australia are often looking for volunteers on projects in Centennial Parklands and other parts of Sydney.
Centennial Parklands is managed by Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust
Locked Bag 15 Paddington NSW 2021 Sydney Australia
Phone: +61 2 9339 6699
After hours emergency: 0412 718 611
Fax: +61 2 9360 4215
Email: info@centennialparklands.com.au
