Blackburn Lake Sanctuary

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Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is one of the few remaining areas of natural bushland in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Blackburn. It is the most significant of the many parks in the City of Whitehorse, featuring extensive walking tracks.

The artificial lake at the centre of the sanctuary is home to a variety of local wildlife, including Pacific Black Ducks and herons. The sanctuary also features a variety of other birds, as well as possums and sugar gliders.

[edit] History

In 1889 the lake itself was formed when Gardiner's Creek was dammed to provide water for local fruit growers. The lake grew in popularity as a tourist destination, with visitors from Melbourne travelling two hours by steam train to reach it.

During the 1890s, artist Frederick McCubbin of the famed Heidelberg School lived briefly near the lake, where he painted works including "Down on his Luck" and "The Bush Burial".

In 1909 the Adult Deaf Society purchased the land surrounding the lake, where they established a hospice and a flower farm. In 1964 the Society sold the lake and the land around it to the Melbourne Water board, and in 1965 the area was declared a sanctuary. Later public purchases increased the size of the sanctuary until it reached its current size in 1992.

The Visitor Centre was refurbished in 1991 to accommodate an expanded education programme.