City retains Green Flag, wins national playspace award

Greater Bendigo’s historic Rosalind Park has retained its prestigious Green Flag award and continues to be one of the best green spaces in Australia.

The award was announced at the Parks and Leisure Australia National Awards, where the Eaglehawk Regional Playspace, inspired by the famous Banjo Paterson poem Mulga Bill’s Bicycle, was also recognised and named best playspace valued over $500,000. 

City of Greater Bendigo Parks and Open Space Acting Manager Orrin Hogan said the awards reinforced the important work of staff and were consistent with the community’s experience of both Rosalind Park and the Eaglehawk playspace. 

“We are thrilled to have been recognised in this way. Both awards are an excellent example of our achievement in providing quality open space and play experiences for our residents,” Mr Hogan said. 

“We were first awarded a Green Flag in 2018 and this year Rosalind Park is the only Victorian park to be recognised and remains one of only two parks outside of a capital city and one of only 10 green spaces in Australia to receive this award. A Green Flag represents an international standard for parks and green spaces and brings with it a vast amount of prestige,” Mr Hogan said. 

“The City has made a considerable investment in Rosalind Park over many years with some recent projects including restoration of heritage fencing along View Street, restoration of a number of the park’s statues and monuments such as the Vahland drinking fountain, replacement tree planting along the Bendigo Creek, installation of new irrigation and turf near the poppet head, and a range of major improvements to the Queen Elizabeth Oval and Faith Leech Aquatic Centre.

“In regards to the Eaglehawk playspace, it was specially designed by our City staff to cater to children of all ages and abilities.  

“It’s also very unique to Eaglehawk and when viewed from above is shaped like a giant Eagle Hawk. It also features custom-designed play equipment inspired by the famous poem, which starts with the line T’was Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk that caught the cycling craze.

“The playspace also features a wonderful butterfly-themed junior play area called Where Angels Play, which celebrates the life of the late baby Zayden Veal Whitting, whose family and friends helped raise funds towards the new space.

“We are absolutely delighted that our beautiful heritage park and our much-loved and unique playspace have been recognised in this way.”