Nortons Park

Nortons Park, part of a series of parks located in the Dandenong Valley, boasts rolling grassed lawns that give this park a distinct European appearance. The park used to be an orchard and it is home to a multitude of old fruit trees that blossom in springtime. It’s a wonderful spot to enjoy a picnic with your friends or, for those who are more active, take a run on the cross-country running track.

Things to Do

• Nortons Park is a good vantage point for capturing stunning views of the area.
• Take advantage of a barbecue lunch, a picnic , or playing cricket or football with your family and friends on the vast, wide lawns.
• Walk through the park until you reach Dandenong Creek. Dandenong Creek or walk all up through Jells Park along the Linear Trail.
• It is the Dandenong Creek in Shepherds Bush adjacent to Nortons Park is a special area to watch birds, such as the revered Kingfisher, which rests and feeds.

Facilities

• There is a huge outdoor picnic area with electric barbecues.
• The trail starts from the south-west part of the park. It continues down to a series of market gardens and into forest, then down to Dandenong Creek and then north to High Street Road. If you go south, you will be able to join the Linear Trail that will take you all the way down the Dandenong Creek to Jells Park.
• Access for disabled persons is available to toilets and picnic areas. The majority of the paths within Nortons Park are sealed and suitable for wheelchairs.
• Check your fitness by in cross-country running through vast grassland areas.

Heritage

The current area of Nortons Park was predominantly orchard country. The park was first spotted from Thomas Blood in 1868, and was in the Blood family until the year 1936.

The park’s name is a reference to the Norton family, who owned the an area of land for 50 years beginning in the beginning of the 1900’s. The land was used as market gardens as well as an orchard of apples and pear and at one time, it was used as a reserve for water for drovers who moved their livestock across the country.

The park opened in 1981. It is 35ha with shaded picnic areas, wide grassy lawns, and a playground and was initially developed to be a recreational park. It is planted with exotic vegetation that gives its own distinct character from similar parks within the Dandenong Valley.

Fauna

The park is home to many species of birds, including the cattle egret and white-faced heron and the Pacific black ducks that hunt in the grasses and near the billabong to eat. A rare Great Egret as well as the sacred kingfisher can also be observed in the billabong. Additionally, groups of bronze-winged common pigeons can be often found in and around car park’s the vegetation.

Vegetation

Nortons Park is home to numerous exotic species of trees like large pine trees , as well as remaining fruit trees.

The View After the Park

• We follow the “carry in, remove” policy Please bring your trash with you.
• Camping is not permitted in the park.
• The ban on fires, even barbecues can be set on days during Total Fire Ban.
• Portable barbecues that are solid fuel are not permitted. However portable gas barbecues may be utilized (except during days of Total Fire Ban).
• Dogs are allowed in the park, but they must be on a leash in all instances. Be aware that dogs aren’t allowed within the adjacent Shepherds Bush conservation area.
• All native species of plants and animals are protected.