Doongalla Stables Picnic Ground

Whispers of “Doongalla,” meaning “place of peace,” drift through the towering trees. Do you feel the tranquility that gave Doongalla Stables Picnic Ground its name? This serene spot, nestled on Mount Dandenong near The Basin, holds echoes of a grand past. Let’s journey back to 1892. A magnificent 32-room mansion, known as Invermay, rose on this very spot, built for Sir Mathew Davies, a member of parliament. Imagine horse-drawn carriages sweeping up the drive. Years later, in 1908, Miss Helen Simson purchased the estate. She renamed it Doongalla, built the stables that lend their name to this picnic ground, and cultivated beautiful gardens. Can you picture her strolling through the fragrant blooms? Doongalla changed hands again in 1922, becoming the property of T.M. Burke, a local estate agent. He used the grand house as both a family retreat and a rest home for Catholic priests. Tragedy struck in 1932. A devastating bushfire swept through the area, reducing the magnificent homestead to ashes. The stables and servants’ quarters miraculously survived. Although the land remained in Burke’s possession, the mansion was never rebuilt. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, a community campaign arose to “Save the Dandenongs.” The government responded by purchasing Doongalla, ensuring its preservation as a forest park. Sadly, even the resilient stables eventually succumbed, demolished in the late 1950s due to safety concerns. Today, at Doongalla Stables Picnic Ground, only the front steps of the original homestead remain, a poignant reminder of its opulent past. Yet, the spirit of “Doongalla” endures. Picnic tables and barbecues dot the upper picnic area. Walking tracks, many originally laid out by Miss Simson, wind through the forest, inviting exploration. Soak in the serenity, listen for the lyrebirds, and imagine the echoes of history at Doongalla Stables Picnic Ground, a place where peace and beauty still reign.