The 450 acre park in Plenty Road when first established was a joint project with the adjoining (former) Councils of Preston, Diamond Valley and Whittlesea. It includes a golf course, scenic drive and picnic sites amidst beautiful mature gum trees, including an Aboriginal Canoe tree. The picnic sites are used to capacity in the warmer months. A museum, using on site, original buildings was established in 1983. Historical Societies from each area worked in conjunction with the Park Committee on the project. The Plenty Road tramline was also extended in 1983, allowing access from the City and all feeder systems, making it ideal for school visits.
Stud horses were introduced to the Bundoora Park property in 1850. The first son of Carbine, the 1890 Melbourne Cup Winner was Wallace. Wallace stood at stud here and sired the winners of the 944 race horses around Australia including two Melbourne Cup winners. His grave on the property is marked by a simple concrete plaque.
Dianne H Edwards in “The Diamond Valley Story” reports that in 1901 it was almost decided that Bundoora Park would become a site for a general cemetery for the northern suburbs. The City of Heidelberg opposed it but the ratepayers of Bundoora and Greensborough supported it. Eventually, the proposal was withdrawn.
In 1974 the State Government made an additional 37 acres of land available to the Bundoora Park Committee of Management.
The idea for a museum gathered momentum for some time and included a cluster of buildings including the Manager’s houses, stables, blacksmith shop, machinery shed and black trackers hut and new brick kiosk to be at entrance to the museum. This did not eventuate.
The Plenty Road tramline was also being extended in 1983, allowing access from the City and all feeder systems, making it ideal for school visits. The children’s farm and café have since been developed. A program for pre-school children operates.
Today the property includes the Bundoora Park Public Golf Course, Bundoora Park Farm and Café, and Mt Cooper scenic drive and lookout, picnic areas and walking trails. Darebin Creek runs along its north west edge. Bundoora Homestead Art Centre and Bundoora Park Oval have been encroached with urban development since the 1980s.
Mt Cooper
Situated at the northern end of Bundoora Park in Plenty Road, Bundoora, Mt Cooper is an extinct volcano, one of three in the region. It has an elevation of 136 metres. Mt Cooper is named after Horatio Cooper (1806-1864) a district pioneer who came to the area in 1837.
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
Stud horses were introduced to the Bundoora Park property in 1850. The first son of Carbine, the 1890 Melbourne Cup Winner was Wallace. Wallace stood at stud here and sired teh winners of the 944 race horses around Australia including two Melbourne Cup winners. His grave on the property is marked by a simple concrete plaque. The Centre has a cafe and hosts a variety of exhibitions.
Photo: Yarra Plenty Regional Library Collection
Updated June, 2021
Please cease this preposterous lie that Mt Cooper is the “highest point in metropolitan Melbourne”. It quite certainly is not! There are a whole host of locations in the eastern suburbs (Vermont, Mitcham, parts of North Ringwood, Croydon North, Chirnside Park as well as parts of The Basin , Ferntree Gully and most of Belgrave and Upwey) which are all a good bit higher than Mt Cooper