Mitcham Reserve
Driving along Old Belair Road, you'll find the
original village green of Mitcham Village. It was the centre of colonial life back in the day and remains a popular reserve today with its beautiful creek, sheltering trees, playground, footbridge, rotunda, barbecues and picnic areas.
Creek
Footbridge
The reserve has had several bandstands dating from the late 1800s. However, built in 1995, its present rotunda serves as a war memorial dedicated to the memory of various service personnel.
One of the barbecues and picnic areas
Rotunda
Over the creek is a well-known landmark. The Keystone Bridge was built in 1875 by John Prince Jr. Believe it or not, the bridge's centre wedge-shaped stone is what locks all the other stones into position.
Keystone Bridge
The centre wedge-shaped stone
The play space on the northern side caters for the younger ones with a tower, horse and cart, slides and horse rocker while the southern side's senior play space has balancing rope totems, climbing rock stack and swing.
Play space - northern side
Play space - southern side
Besides the very cute carved gumnuts, there is a willow tree sculpture in the southwestern corner of the reserve too. Copper pipes resemble the willow tree and you are welcome to sit around its 'trunk'.
Carved gumnuts
Willow tree sculpture
Towards the north of the reserve, a large monument marks the site of the Union Chapel which was used as a schoolhouse for 24 years. Former carpenter and joiner Thomas Mugg was appointed the first school teacher. Nearby, at the entrance, a soldiers memorial arch commemorates those who had served in World War I.
Union Chapel monument
Soldiers memorial arch
is located at the corner of Old Belair Road and Norman Walk in Mitcham. There are toilets and free car parking onsite. And, in case you're wondering, yes, this reserve is also home to one of the City of Mitcham's
tree trails.
