Friends of Royal Park - Buninyong

Committees of Management

Crown land reserves have historically been managed by committees of management. This system of administration has evolved to include community groups, councils and statutory bodies. Importantly, members of the public have been involved in the management of Crown land reserves for over 150 years.

Today, all committees appointed under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 manage their reserve on behalf of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and have responsibility and authority to manage, improve, maintain and control their reserve.

Royal Park is the offical name for the Old footy ground. Go South down Warrenheip Street,

and it's the oval between Hendrick and Nolan Streets.

There is also a Google Maps link, which will allow you to zoom in and out, and find how to get "to and from".

Crown Land

A Crown land reserve is public land that has been set aside for public purposes for the enjoyment and benefit of the people of Victoria. The colonial Government began to reserve Crown land in the latter half of the 19th century as a means of providing land for important community activities. Crown land reserves support a whole range of amenities and uses such as halls, libraries, theatres, showgrounds, gardens, bushland, zoos, foreshores, sports ovals, tennis courts, playgrounds, swimming pools and rail trails. Victoria has over 12,000 Crown land reserves. Crown land is still set aside today for the use and benefit of the general public.

The principal legislation dealing with the reservation and management of Crown lands in Victoria is the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978.

It is all due to our Scottish ancestors!

1857 was the first year a Buninyong Highland Society was formed, and a year later the site we call "the old footy ground" was fenced to be a suitable place for the next "Highland Games".

The Royal connection comes in, when about 10 years later a young Prince Alfred (second son of Queen Victoria), the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Buninyong. He attended the games at the Highland Grounds, and it thereafter became known as 'Royal Park'.

The Buninyong Historical Society.

Visit the Buninyong Historical Society's web site, and find out the full story in an article by Anne Beggs Sunter called "The Buninyong Highland Society." (scroll down the page)