History of the Knox Community Gardens Society Incorporated
Dinsdale Public Park and Recreation Reserve, 254 Scoresby Rd Boronia
This space was originally tribal territory of the Wurundjeri, part of the Woi Wurrung Clan, of the Kulin Nation.
Land Titles show that local land was occupied by the Dinsdale family from 1867 and that E. Dinsdale later returned a portion of that allotment on either side of Blind Creek back to the Crown.
1946
Victorian Government assembled various parcels of land on either side of Burwood Hwy to create a 110 acre, (45 hectare) site for the purposes of horticultural research.
Land was cleared using gelignite and horses.
A dam, (which has come to be known as Lake Knox) and a bridge over Blind Creek was built by the Board of Works.
18 February 1947
Official opening of the Scoresby Horticultural Research Station.
Over the decades it doubled in size and significantly contributed to horticultural productivity, in particular developing disease resistant cultivars of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, potatoes, tomatoes, apples, pears, plums and many types of vegetables. Modern potting mix was first developed here.
1948
Scoresby Weather Station was set up. It is just on the other side of Blind Creek from the present Community Gardens.
Himalayan cypress, Cupressus torulosa, windbreaks were planted.
1950’s
The Apicultural Research Unit was established at the southern end of where the Community Gardens are today. There was a dozen beehives and a laboratory, workshop and office building.
Further north was a large block of cherry trees and another of lemons, near the live-in Caretakers house.
Agriculture Officer, Karel Kroon and his family lived in this brick and wooden cottage. Karel oversaw the strawberry program which saved Victoria’s multi-million industry.
An unsealed track ran along the western boundary, past the dam, across a precarious wooden bridge, past the apiary to the caretakers house, turning right at the northern boundary and continuing to Scoresby Rd. It is still in use today.
1/10/80
7.128 hectares was separated from the Knoxfield Horticultural Research Station Reserve and detailed as Crown allotment 40B Parish of Scoresby, Certified Plan No. 104657.
23/4/81
The Governor of Victoria, in the Victorian Gazette, proclaimed under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, s. 4 and s.7, that those 7.128 hectares, be permanently reserved for Park and Recreation.
The State government passed the management, but not ownership, of this parcel of Crown Land to Knox Council.
9/2/82
Knox Council resolved, “That the Crown Reserve that was formally part of Knoxfield Horticultural Research Station and now under management of the Council, be named Dinsdale Public Park and Recreation Reserve“.
That name was gazetted on 9/1/85.
12/6/84
Knox City’s Landscape Architect, Mr Dick Dare announced:-
“the gardens will allow residents in flats and small units without room to grow produce, to enjoy a pleasurable pastime. One of the principal themes of these gardens is to give Knox citizens a chance to take part in educational experiences in horticulture associated with vines, fruit and vegetables”.
Knox Sherbrooke News
1/7/84
A Commonwealth Employment Program was established to create a vineyard, orchard and community garden and to provide horticultural employment and training.
1/10/84
Knox Community Garden was established as a Co-Operative and being oversubscribed, 62 plots were allocated by ballot.
Several months later, 1500 Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet vines were donated by the town of Noarlunga, Knox’s sister city in South Australia, (part of the McLaren Vale wine area) and planted at the KCGS site.
Early 1990s
Another 21 plots were established, along with some raised beds.
20/1/92
Knox Community Gardens Society Incorporated, A 0024404K, was registered with Corporate Affairs Victoria, under the Association Incorporation Act 1981, replacing the previous Co-operative structure.
The Society is governed by a Registered Constitution.
We also have General Rules, By-laws and Policy documents.
It is a Not for Profit organisation.
Following these changes, Knox Council delegated management of the operation of the Community Garden and orchards to an elected Committee of Management, composed of members of the Society.
Late 1990’s
Another 37 smaller plots were established amongst the orchard at the southern end of the gardens.
July 2005
Swinburne University advised it was no longer viable for them to lease the vineyard.
2/11/05
Following Swinburne University advising that it would no longer lease any of the vineyard, Knox Council called for and received Expressions of Interest for its management.
12/6/06
The Society’s lease was adjusted to exclude the 11 rows of grapevines that it had been previously managing since the mid 1990’s, located between the original plots to the north and the newer orchard plots to the south. The vineyard was leased to a private company, Winesoft P/L, who with this larger area were able to obtain a Vigneron’s Licence and operate a cellar door operation.
2011
The site was assessed as Category 3 in the, “Gardens for Wildlife Scheme”.
2012
Another five plots established at the southern end of the site.
2015
The lease to Winesoft was not renewed. As a result, Winesoft relocated from the site the following year and the buildings remained empty and the vines became neglected.
2018
The Society commenced free regular Educational Workshops for the local community presented by our members and visiting experts. We collaborate with Knox Council’s “Gardens for Harvest” program.
2018
Knox City Council initiated the Lewis Park Master Plan, a 20-year vision for creating inclusive spaces for people to engage with nature, culture and sport, and where our natural environment can thrive. Blind Creek “daylighting” and Knox Community Gardens were included in this plan.
During 2018 and 2019 Knox Council consultation with the local community indicated very strong support for the Gardens. At the Council meeting it was formally decided that the Community Gardens would remain in its existing location.
Subsequently, the Gardens were the recipients of several early developments, including a new perimeter fence and electrically powered gates, with fob entry and exit functionality.
A paved public carpark was built, at the Kleinert Road entry to the gardens, where the old house had been.
28/11/18
We introduce modern Communications Strategies, using Mailchimp to bulk email members, instead of snail mail:- quicker and cheaper!
We have our own website, www.knoxcommunitygardens.org.au ,professionally hosted by Avant Digital, to publicise information and interact with our members and the public.
We also use social media accounts to communicate with the local community.
27 May 2019
We are successful in obtaining our own Australian Business Number, (ABN), which facilitates applying for grants and opening accounts with suppliers.
6/10/19
The Gardens celebrated our 35th Anniversary with an Open Day and mega plant sale.
2021
Knox City Council, following community consultation and expert advice that the grapevines were in poor condition and their revival and ongoing management would be expensive, decided to remove all vines from the site.
Council commenced a blackberry eradication program in Dinsdale Reserve, using a managed flock of goats and electric fencing.
1/7/22
https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/new-child-safe-standards-now-apply/
All office bearers and volunteers need a free Working with Children Check, https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
2022
After the vines had been removed, another eight plots were established at the western end of where the 11 rows of vines were.
Queensland Fruit Fly became prevalent in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Security Alarm system installed.
2023
12 plots converted to “no-dig” by doubling the height of plot edges.
In association with Knox City Council, we renovated our clubrooms and now have running hot and cold water and a dishwasher. The roof of the BBQ and shed areas were renovated and painted. Motion activated external lighting installed.
2024
Ongoing works to improve drainage by clearing existing drains and installing some new ones.
Refurbishment of plot edges continues, carried out by members and enabled by Knox Council grants.
Today
There are nearly 200 members of the Society, most of whom involve their family in the Community Gardening lifestyle. We have an extensive orchard, 150 various sized plots and raised beds.
The site and facilities, such as undercover BBQ, tables and benches, toilets and clubroom are open every day, to be enjoyed by local members and families.
One of our priorities now is to share the Gardens with local community groups such as Rotary Boronia, Villa Maria Catholic Homes and Knoxbrooke Disability Services. We have visits by students from Fairhills High School and participate in a healthy eating program for primary school students, run by Eastern Access Community Health (EACH). We also host tours and events for community groups, such as Gardens for Harvest, U3A and Knox Talking Café.
The combined site, together with its surrounds provides significant local biodiversity. The southern and south eastern border of Dinsdale Reserve provides overflow retardation for Blind Creek with significant habitat trees and remnant indigenous vegetation.
We are extremely lucky to have such an amazing space in our community and our Committee works diligently to maintain it for our members.