Old Lilydale Road, Ringwood East

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This 1.2 km road runs from Whitehorse Road to Mt. Dandenong Road.


It lives up to its name as most of the houses are old and of weatherboard construction. They are on large blocks and fortunately very few have been developed to multi-residences.


This is an unusual road as it has a wide tree-covered medium strip. The east side is a two-way road and is the main thoroughfare. The west side is more like a service road and has very little through traffic. Good for residents.


The tree-filled medium strip is like a mini-forest as a result of several National Tree Community Planting initiatives.


As a result, it has become a haven for birds. Several currawongs were heard in a tall tree and it took several minutes to accurately locate the source.


Gardens on both sides of the road displayed many floral displays. The most colourful was an escaped alstroemeria or Peruvian lily.


Another escapee was a white azalea which was joined by many leaves.

Many camellia trees were in flower adding constant splashes of colour.






Only one bird of paradise was seen and only one hebe bush in flower.




Almost standard with weatherboard houses were picket fences, many with recessed gateways. This would be a good walk to take your grandchildren on as you can often say, "I used to live in a house like that when I was your age."


Surprisingly only one had a lychgate and several old picket fences were becoming overgrown.




A tall banksia bush was in full bloom, with a yellow rose representing that genus.




Two stages of flowering gum trees were evident with one just bursting into flower and another with a lovely bunch of gum nuts.




A sword lily looked nice in the process of blooming.


A leucadendron plant, endemic to South Africa, was also coming to full bloom. It was a Safari Sunset variety. I know this because the gardener had kindly left the nursery tag next to it.


Many people were out walking their dogs or children.




The only birds seen not in the medium strip forest were two crested pigeons feeding on a lawn.


Meanwhile, in the forest, were several noisy miners and magpies.



At the Mt. Dandenong Road end of the western side, the Old Lilydale Road is a strip of about ten shops, including a small coffee book café.


As an old Lilydale resident, I almost felt at home walking this road. It is definitely a nostalgic walk.



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