Imagine a place where history has been etched into the very landscape. Look around you at the Afton Street Conservation Reserve, a peaceful haven that holds echoes of a bygone era. This isn’t your average park. It wasn’t always peaceful. You’re standing on land that served a different purpose entirely, a place where history took on a more explosive form. You see, the Afton Street Conservation Reserve was once part of the Defence Explosive Factory Maribyrnong.
This factory was responsible for producing and testing explosives during World War II. The evidence of that past lingers today, in the form of mounds of earth and the remnants of a bridge once used to transport munitions across the Maribyrnong River.
But the story of this reserve reaches even further back in time. Long before the factory, this land was an important site for the Wurundjeri people. They used the natural resources here to create stone tools. Their presence is still felt today, in the basalt silcrete outcrops that dot the reserve.
Today, the Afton Street Conservation Reserve is a sanctuary for nature. It’s a haven for five birds of prey, smaller feathered friends like thornbills and silvereyes, and even waterbirds that flit along the riparian fringe. With its two areas of Western Basalt Plains Grassland and 25 regionally significant species of indigenous plants, there is a lot to be discovered here.
The reserve is a testament to the ever-changing nature of a place. It’s a reminder that even in the heart of a bustling city, nature has a way of reclaiming its space. So take a moment, breathe in the fresh air, and let the story of the Afton Street Conservation Reserve unfold around you.