The sculpture of Atarantuka at the William Ricketts Sanctuary

Dandenong (including Churchill National Park and Lysterfield Lake Park)
Popular and hugely attractive mountain area to the east of Melbourne.
The City of Greater Dandenong is an administrative, industrial and residential region within Melbourne which incorporates the suburbs of Dandenong, Dandenong South, Bangholme, Keysborough, Noble Park, South Springvale, Springvale and Dandenong North. Dandenong itself is located 32 km south-east of the Melbourne CBD and 23 m above sea-level. The city is traversed by the Princes Highway which meets up with the South Gippsland Highway at the south-eastern boundary of the city.

Once occupied by the Woiwurung people a cattle run was established at Dandenong Creek in 1837 by pioneer Joseph Hawdon who was a principal of the first overland cattle trek across the Murray River to Port Phillip and the first overland drive from NSW to South Australia which was, at the time (1838) the longest journey of its kind to be attempted by whites in Australia. He was also a pioneer of the overland mail service. A native police camp was also set up at this time on land now part of Churchill National Park but it closed in 1839.

At the time Dandenong was a very attractive and verdant valley but the presence of red-gum timber soon drew timbergetters who set up wattle-and-daub huts in the area. Some of the material was used for paving the streets of Melbourne.

This area was the starting point for Charles La Trobe's 1845 expedition to Port Albert. First Dunn's Inn and later Dunbar's Hotels were established in the 1840s - the latter at the corner of Lonsdale and Walker Streets. The first post office opened at Dunn's in 1848 and later moved to Dunbar's which was built of shingles and palings. Land auctions, courts, church services and Road Board meetings were all held at Dunbar's.

A plank bridge was constructed over Dandenong Creek in the early 1840s and a basic road to Gippsland was developed in 1847-48. A new log bridge was built over Dandenong Creek in 1849, a stronger timber bridge the following year and a stone bridge in 1867.

Dandenong began to develop into a town in the early 1850s and a court of petty sessions was established in 1858. It was named Dandenong after an Aboriginal word ('dan-y-nong' or 'tanjenong') meaning 'high mountain' (a reference to Mt Dandenong).

Development of the area was accelerated when a coach road was built between Melbourne and Sale from 1858 to 1865. Agriculture and horticulture became important in the area. After a market was established c.1864 it became one of the state's most important marketing centres for livestock and farm produce. It became a shire in 1873 and the railway arrived in 1879. A brickworks was established in 1894, a canning factory and foundry in 1898 and a bacon factory in 1912.

The area was developed after World War II with many Housing Commission installations. General Motors-Holden opened a motor vehicle manufacturing plants in 1952 and 1955 and Heinz built a large food processing plant at the same time. Consequently the population trebled in the 1950s. Australia's largest market for livestock was built here in 1958 and Dandenong was declared a city in 1959. Since that time it has become a significant manufacturing centre.

The Dandenong Agricultural Show is held annually in November. The Dandenong Market is held at the corner of Clow and Cleeland Sts every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 8.00 a.m. and a trash-and-treasure market starts at 8.00 a.m. every Sunday on the South Gippsland Highway.

Things to see:  

Town Hall
The monumental two-storey stuccoed town hall was built in 1890. It initially served as a town hall, courthouse and mechanics' institute. A Classical design it features a clock tower with grand mansard roof and is located at the intersection of Lonsdale St (the Princes Highway), Walker St and Langhorne St.

Heritage Hill Social History Museum
Heritage Hill is a cluster of historic buildings set in picturesque gardens at 51 Langhorne St (which runs off Walker St). Buildings include the Benga Oral History Centre, St James' Church (Dandenong's oldest building) and 'Laurel Lodge' (1869). There is also a collection of material pertaining to local history. It is open Wednesday to Friday and Sundays from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 9793 4511. There is an admission charge.

Dandenong to Patterson Lakes Trail
Park your car at Dandenong Park in Pultney St then walk all the way along Power St to the Clow St intersection. A 17-km cycling trail starts nearby, at a quiet corner of the green belt bordering Dandenong Creek. An asphalt path leads south alongside the creek past several ovals and a picnic ground, then over the creek via a suspension bridge. Follow the red-brick path to the Lonsdale St lights. Cross the road and walk along Webster St (again adjacent the creek). Cross Hammond Rd and continue along the gravel path. It veers to the left and heads south-west beneath Greens Rd and Perry Rd, passing through Dandenong South and Bangholme. The creek eventually becomes the wider Patterson River and the path passes the National Water Sports Centre and under the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. The scenery improves as you reach Patterson Lakes - a former swamp which has become a residential area. The track follows a levee and bridge across a series of floodgates, then follows the river past boat-launching ramps and a carpark to the Nepean Highway and the mouth of the river on the shore of Port Phillip Bay. There are barbecues and a playground near the bridge.

Churchill National Park
Just to the north-east of Dandenong is Churchill National Park (193 ha) which represents a rare remaining section of the bushland and forest which covered the Melbourne area prior to European settlement. Although there are clear traces of the human presence (a disused aqueduct, powerlines, man-made dams, water-supply channels, abandoned quarry sites, and evidence of man-made fires and clearing practices) it is still an oasis for native fauna and flora and a good spot for picnicking and scenic walks.

A police corps headquarters for native trackers was established on this land in 1837 though it closed in 1839. The national park was declared in 1941. It was initially known as Dandenong National Park but was changed in 1944 in honour of Winston Churchill.

The park is profuse with birdlife such as parrots, honeyeaters, wrens, thornbills and a colony of melodious bellbirds at Bellbird Bend. Kangaroos and wallabies have been reintroduced as they died out in the 19th century. They can be seen in the early morning and at dusk. Echidnas are quite common and so are green and golden bell frogs in summer. Snakes can be seen on warmer days. They are protected and tend to flee at the vibrations of approaching footfalls. Much of the wildlife is nocturnal. Eucalypt and wattle species are many. Due to clearing in the past, open woodland tends to be more common than forest.

To get there, turn off the Princes Highway at Dandenong along Clow St then turn left into Stud Rd. After about 1.7 km turn right into Heatherton Rd and after about another 1.7 km turn left again into Power Rd. After about 2.5 km it reaches a T-intersection with Churchill Park Drive. Turn right and you will soon come to the park entrance on the left. It leads to a picnic area with barbecues, toilets, tables, parking and a large picnic shelter. Before it reaches the picnic site the main entrance road passes an area on the left where kangaroos and wallabies feed at dawn and dusk.

There are a network of intersecting walking tracks in the park. You can pick up the Shelter Track from the picnic area. It reaches a T-intersection with the Aqueduct Channel Track which follows the course of a disused water channel that once supplied water to Dandenong, passing through an attractive, lightly wooded landscape. If you turn left onto the Aqueduct Track it soon leads to Bellbird Bend. Other trails are the Bellbird Track, the Ridge Track, the North Boundary Track (which passes the only stand of messmate in the park and an artificial dam which is a good spot for birdwatching) and Stonemasons Track which is recommended for cycling and jogging.

Parks Victoria put out a pamphlet relating to the park which includes a map outlining the walks, tel: 131 963.

Lysterfield Lake Park
Just to the east of Churchill National Park is Lysterfield Lake Park, based around the former Lysterfield Reservoir which supplied water to the Mornington Peninsula from 1936 until it was supplanted by Cardinia Reservoir in 1975. It has since become a recreation area.

To get there, head off the Princes Highway along Clow St then turn left into Stud Rd. After about 1.7 km turn right into Heatherton Rd. Proceed east for about 8 km then turn left into the Belgrave-Hallam Rd. About 2 km along this road turn left into Horswood Rd which leads through the main entrance and ticket office to Lysterfield Lake. The entrance is closed at night. There is an admission fee.

This Park incorporates valuable remnant native forest and eucalypt plantations. It is also a wildlife refuge which has attracted numerous bird species such as ducks, swans, grebus, pelicans, Japanese snipe, gang-gang, cockatoos, bellbirds, wrens and honeyeaters.

At the Lakeside Picnic Area there are carparks, picnic areas, barbecues, boat-launching ramps and toilets. Horseriding is permitted in summer on some tracks in the east of the park. Those interested in orienteering, rogaining or bringing in groups of 40 or more must contact the Park Office first, tel: (03) 9796 8763.

Swimming is permitted only from the beach in the lakeside area and, while power boats are forbidden for reasons of swimmers' safety and for the protection of waterbird habitats, non-powered boating is permitted in certain delineated areas (it is excluded from the northern, eastern and south-eastern edges of the lake). Those with sailboats should note that a 5-metre maximum applies to monhull boats and 4.3 m for multi-hull boats. Sailboarding, canoeing and rowing are other possibilities. Informal competitions are allowed but not regattas and model boating is restricted to non-motorised craft. A brochure called 'Boating on Lysterfield Lake' is available from the park or ring Parks Victoria on 131 963.

Some of the park's tracks are for walkers only while others are also open to cyclists. The paths around the lakeside are wheelchair friendly and there are disabled facilities at the toilets. Access along the tracks can be difficult after heavy rain.

The two main walks are (a) a short and pleasant walk from the lakeside area to the dam wall and (b) an 8-km walk around the lake, across the dam wall and along the Tramline Track, Lamberts Track and Lake Track, around the northern edge of the Conservation Zone to Logan Park Rd then through the Conservation Zone to the main carpark.

Parks Victoria publish a pamphlet relating to the park, tel: 131 963.

	Motels
	Dandenong Motel 147 Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9794 0599 Rating: ***
	Imperial Inn Motel 124 Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9706 8611 Rating: ****
	Hotels
	Affaire Receptions At The Old Dandy Inn 193 Lonsdale St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 2550
	Albion Hotel 333 Lonsdale St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 2501
	Dandenong Quest Inn Hotel Cnr Princes Hwy & James St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9797 2200
	Nu - Hotel Scott St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9794 0522
	Prince Mark Hotel/Motel Princes Hwy Doveton Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 9725
	Southern Aurora 2 Foster St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 7366
	The Pub 313 Lonsdale St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 2559
	Apartments
	Quest Dandenong Serviced Apartments Cnr Princes Hwy & James St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9797 2200 Facsimile: (03) 9797 2299 Email: questdandenong@questapartments.com.au Rating: ****
	Quest Narre Warren Serviced Apartments Cnr Princes Hwy & Verdun Dve Narre Warren Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9796 6944 Facsimile: (03) 9796 6244 Email: questnarrewarren@questapartments.com.au Rating: ****
	Caravan Parks
	Shawlands Caravan Park South Gippsland Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 3176 Rating: **
	BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park 370 Frankston Rd Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9706 5492, 1800 648 346 Facsimile: (03) 9706 5076 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Auriel Restaurant & Bar Robinson St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9793 7277
	Beijing Garden Chinese Restaurant Thomas St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 7995
	Cardens Seafood & Steak House Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 7233
	Churinga Restaurant 1381 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd Mt Dandenong Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9751 1242
	Cookies Pizza Ross St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 2466
	Dandy Pizza House Foster St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 1160
	Dandy West Fish & Chips Hemming St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 2493
	Ease Garden Chinese Restaurant McCrae St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9706 8166
	Ease Garden Restaurant Shop 233 Dandenong Plaza Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9706 8856
	Eating House Pultney St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9706 8955
	Golden Pagoda Restaurant Clow St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 2335
	Golden Peacock Restaurant Outlook Dve Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9795 4554
	Gourmet Asia Restaurant Thomas St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 3122
	Grandma Lee's Restaurant Shop 310 Dandenong Plaza Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 8022
	Hanna's Pizza Restaurant Gladstone Rd Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9794 9597
	Ho Inn Restaurant Capital Cntr Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9793 1333
	Hoai Viet's Restaurant Thomas St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 3600
	Hon Dynasty Chinese Restaurant Thomas St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 7947
	Indra Thai Restaurant Walker St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 1160
	Johnny Rockets Shop 2 47 Dandenong Plaza McCrae St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9769 2544
	Juke Joint Diner Dandenong Plaza Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9769 2810
	Keg Restaurant & Bar Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9793 2133
	Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9793 9618
	Palace Restaurant Foster St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 3653
	Princes Restaurant Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9706 8611
	Royal Maxim Restaurant Walker St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9791 1400
	Ruffino's Ristorante Italiano Stud Rd Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 4479
	Sinbad Lebanese Restaurant Langhorne St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9794 7239
	South Eastern Thai & Asian Restaurant Thomas St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 3122
	Tatra Restaurant Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd Mt Dandenong Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9751 1065
	The Net Restaurant Foster St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 5481
	The Pancake Parlour Restaurant Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9794 8232
	Wing Hung Chinese Restaurant Thomas St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 3600
	Cafés
	Cafe Lahore Mason St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9792 0025
	Your Health Cafe Walker St Dandenong VIC 3175 Telephone: (03) 9794 7583