Bollygum Park

Client

Shire of Murrindindi

Project Size

$800K

Location

Wallan, Victoria

}

Completion Date

2011

l

Architect

Jeavons & Associates

Type of Project

Design & Construct, Public Realm, Recreation, Fabrication 

Awards

KidSafe National Playspace Design Awards 2014, Public Playspaces – Category B $500K to $1M

Children’s book inspires symbolic rebuild at Kinglake.

Prior to Black Saturday fires in 2009, Kinglake locals had worked for 10 years on the concept for a park based on the well loved children’s book Bollygum. Tragically many of the locals who were involved in the project lost their lives in the fires.

Bollygum Park became a symbolic part of the rebuild efforts. It was time to turn the concepts into a reality and we chose to work with as many locals as possible. We engaged and worked with various local artists, employed a lot of local contractors and locals. This was a difficult and sensitive job, and we worked tirelessly with a local committee on an emotional ride with people that had lost family and friends in the fires.

The majority of the timber used in the project was acquired from the local Men’s shed.

Naturform were trusted with a difficult and sensitive job. The park is in the centre of town, nestled into the bush and has become the heart and soul of the town, rebuilt after the fires.