Friends of Korumburra Botanic Park
The Botanic Park and adjacent Olsen’s Walk, less than a kilometre from the town centre, is one of Korumburra’s best kept secrets, providing an idyllic spot for nature walks, picnics, lunch breaks and meeting up with friends. On hot days it is very cool down at the Botanic Park.
The Park was established in 1910 to a design created by H.S. James F.R.H.S. and was supported by William Guilfoyle the architect of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Apart from the beautiful vistas the Park provides there are also many individual trees of interest including: the English Oak (Quercus robur) planted to mark the coronation of George V and Mary in 1910; the avenue of Giant Redwood (Sequoia giganteum) at the Bourke Street end: the stately Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii); and, the Cork Oak (Quercus suber), an evergreen oak species that is the primary source of cork for uses such as wine bottle stoppers and the core of cricket balls. The large Aleppo, or Gallipoli Pine (Pinus halepensis) in Coleman Park has provided the seed for young offspring in the Park and a Gallipoli oak (Quercus coccifera) acorn planting is being nurtured that originated from the Shrine of Remembrance oak that had to be felled in 2012 because of disease. Last, but certainly not least, there are many magnificent eucalypts throughout the Park and Olsen’s Walk.
Olsen’s Walk is named after Bill Olsen who was the main actor in laying out the paths and bridges along Coalition Creek, a tributary of the Tarwin River. There is much native vegetation remnant in this area and currently bridges are being repaired as re-wilding continues.
Friends of Korumburra Botanic Park (FOKBP) is an incorporated association with a group of volunteers, led by President, Ben Ellis, that serves as an advisory body to the South Gippsland Shire Council to help maintain, restore and improve the Park. The group also undertakes plantings and weed control through regular working parties and is using a variety of methods to control weeds. FOKBP is affiliated with Landcare Victoria.
New members are warmly welcomed. There is a downloadable membership form on the FOKBP Facebook page.
Work parties are generally scheduled on a Thursday or Saturday throughout the year from 10am - 12pm. Weather permitting. Check the FOKBP Facebook page for work party announcements.
Donations towards seedlings, tree guards, etc. will be gratefully received.
“Many hands make light work.”
