The Bellbird Dell is a nature reserve in the suburb of Vermont within the City of Whitehorse. It comprises a total area of 17.5 hectares. The northern section of the reserve, of approximately 7.26 hectares, was part of a former orchard owned by Victor Rhodes, and worked by his son, Cecil, of which peaches, pears, cherries and apples were grown. In contrast, the southern section of the reserve retained greater areas of remnant native bushland.
Cecil Rhodes on his Vermont orchard circa 1949. Source: Whitehorse Historical Society.
Victor Rhodes. Source: Whitehorse Historical Society.
In 1966, the City of Nunawading Council negotiated with Cecil Rhodes to acquire 7.26 hectares of bushland to form the basis of the 'Bellbird Dell'. After the sale of the orchard, Cecil and his family relocated to a residential property in Alwyn Street, Mitcham (Bob Harrington Personal Communication, 28th February 2022).
After the acquisition of the Rhodes' property in 1966, the City of Nunawading Council obtained titles to an additional fourteen titles between 1972 and 1986, which expanded the area of the Bellbird Dell public open space. In addition, the section of land formerly declared as the 'Healesville Freeway Reserve' was also leased to facilitate access between the north and south sections of the Bellbird Dell (Bellbird Parkland Advisory Committee, 2022).
Creek Through the Bellbird Dell is Barrelled (1972) A creek which passed through the Bellbird Dell and connected up with the Dandenong Creek, was barrelled in 1972. As noted by the Bellbird Parkland Advisory Committee, the decision to barrel the natural watercourse was motivated by a major flooding event of Morack Road and Burwood Highway that occurred in 1972, which coincided with the reservation of the "site and its adjoining land as public open space" (Bellbird Parkland Advisory Committee, 2022).
Revegetation efforts are commenced at the Bellbird Dell (1975) In 1975, small-scale works were undertaken to remove blackberries and gorse from part of Bellbird Dell closest to Philip Street (Bellbird Parkland Advisory Committee, 2022). Over time, areas of the Bellbird Dell have been modified to accomodate grassed areas and two playgrounds, seats, picnic areas and walking trails. A timber boardwalk is also featured that follows the course of the original creek over what is now a gully that with adequate rainfall, provides an area of natural wetland habitat (Bellbird Parkland Advisory Committee, 2022). Additional plantings of native trees was undertaken throughout the 1980s in an attempt to enhance the native biodiversity and habitat values of the reserve.
References
1. Bellbird Parkland Advisory Committee, 2022, 'Bellbird Dell', accessed 14th March 2022, <https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/60d923316e5f99545134e275>. 2. Bob Harrington Personal Communication, 28th February 2022.
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