Jells Park
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Jells Park is a public park in Wheelers Hill, a southeastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The park opened on 30 April 1976 and is named after Joseph Jell, a cattle grazier who worked in the area in the mid-late 1800s. The park attracts in excess of 900,000 visitors a year. Located on the western bank of the Dandenong Creek, the park covers around and contains of paths for cycling and walking, including Scotchmans Creek Trail, EastLink Trail, and Dandenong Creek Trail which connects to Blind Creek Trail.


Ecology

Whilst a significant part of Jells Park has been cleared and revegetated, its biodiversity is still significant, forming part of the Dandenong Creek
wildlife corridor A wildlife corridor, also known as a habitat corridor, or green corridor, is a designated area habitat (ecology), that connects wildlife populations that have been separated by human activities or structures, such as development, roads, or land ...
. Under the ecological vegetation class system, it is predominantly swampy woodland and swampy riparian woodland. The park is home to the man-made Jells Lake, with two
jetties A jetty is a man-made structure that protrudes from land out into water. A jetty may serve as a breakwater, as a walkway, or both; or, in pairs, as a means of constricting a channel. The term derives from the French word ', "thrown", signif ...
where
recreational fishing Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing or game fishing, is fishing for leisure, exercise or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is occupational fishing activities done for profit; or subsistence fishing, ...
is a popular activity. European carp are present in large numbers in the wetland and have become a significant concern for its biodiversity. The lake is abutted by a grassed picnic area on the northwest, whilst an area of remnant bush surrounds the rest of the lake. This bush also contains a bird hide which can be used to spot a variety of native bird species such as
Australasian swamphen The Australasian swamphen (''Porphyrio melanotus''), commonly known as the pūkeko in New Zealand, is a striking and socially complex bird found in Oceania, including eastern Indonesia (the Moluccas, Aru Islands, Aru and Kai Islands), Papua New ...
s,
pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before ...
s,
Eurasian coot The Eurasian coot (''Fulica atra''), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-bla ...
s,
dusky moorhen The dusky moorhen (''Gallinula tenebrosa'') is a bird species in the rail family and is one of the eight extant species in the moorhen genus. It occurs in India, Australia, New Guinea, Borneo and Indonesia. It is often confused with the purple ...
s, and several species of ducks.


Paths

Jells Park contains an extensive network of
shared use path A shared-use path, mixed-use path or multi-use pathway is a path which is "designed to accommodate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists". Examples of shared-use paths include sidewalks designated as shared-use, bridleways and rail trails. A ...
s for cycling, walking, and running. The Dandenong Creek Trail runs north—south through the park. Scotchmans Creek Trail also runs through the park from the west, connecting with Dandenong Creek Trail in the south east corner. EastLink Trail skirts the southern edge of the park. A little further north of the park, the Blind Creek Trail comes in from the east and also terminates at the Dandenong Creek Trail. The ''Conservation Trail'' follows the eastern side of the lake past billabongs and wetlands. The bird hide is accessible from this path. Most trails through the park are paved but some are firm gravel. Paths are generally well signposted and suitable for prams. Dogs are permitted on-lead in much of the park, except for the areas of remnant bushland where they are prohibited.


Facilities

The park is popular for picnics and barbecues, with playgrounds at Yabby Hill. In late 2018, the remaining wood-burning barbecues were removed in favour of the newer gas ones, leaving eight gas barbecues remaining. The park incorporates the following picnic areas: There is a visitor centre in the north west of the park which is run by Parks Victoria and incorporates a cafe and toilet block. Two ovals in the south of the park are frequently used for sporting activities and are open for public access at other times.


Ownership History

* 1839 – Licenced to Thomas Napier. * 1839 – Lease sold to Alexander Scott. * 1848 – Divided into several holdings – section including today's Jells Park licenced to Joseph Jell & James Ramsay. * 23 Apr 1853 – Land Parish of Mulgrave drawn giving Joseph Jell pre-emptive claim to 320 acres. * July 1855 – Title issued to Joseph Jell. * 1886 – Sold to Thomas William Norris. * 1888 – Sold to Thomas Knight Bennett. * 1906 – Ownership transferred to the Caledonian and Australian Mortgage and Agency Company Limited. * 12 Nov 1910 – Purchased at auction by Thomas Stephens. * 1919 – 320 acres subdivided in two. Northern 160 acres (Jells Park) retained by Thomas Stephens, Southern 160 acres sold to Leonard Sydney Henry Stott. * 14 Nov 1936 – Willed to Amanda Florence Stephens & Norman Thomas Stephens. * 22 Jan 1937 – Sold to Alexander McKenzie (Property managed by George William Herring). * 18 Aug 1947 – Willed to Roberta Florence Bennett, Annie Margaret Muriel McKenzie, Edna Georgina Alice Wainwright & John Alexander McKenzie. * 13 Oct 1949 – Sold to George William Herring & Violet Florence Emily Matilda Herring. * 1969 – Sold to MMBW (Melbourne Water). * April 1976 – Jells Park opened to the public.


References


External links


Jells Park
at
Parks Victoria Parks Victoria is a government agency of the state of Victoria, Australia. Parks Victoria was established in December 1996 as a statutory authority, reporting to the Victorian Minister for Environment. The ''Parks Victoria Act 2018'' updates ...

Jells Park visitor guide
at Parks Victoria * {{Metropolitan parks of Victoria Parks in Melbourne 1976 establishments in Australia City of Monash