Was this hill always this quiet? The Dundonald Ruins we see today are a mere echo of a grand past. They whisper of a time when this land belonged to the Hon. Donald Kennedy. This prominent figure, a member of the Legislative Council, chose this very hill to build his homestead in the 1850s. He named it Dundonald, a Scottish term meaning “Donald’s little hill”. Imagine a time when these ruins were a grand house, surrounded by carefully planted exotic trees. These trees, some of the finest in the region, still stand today as a testament to Kennedy’s vision. Sadly, the grand homestead met an unfortunate end. It was destroyed by fire in the 1970s, leaving behind these poignant ruins. Take a moment to appreciate the size and form of the remaining trees. They are landmarks, visible even from the Tullamarine Freeway. These silent giants witnessed the changing landscape, from Kennedy’s time to the bustling city that surrounds us now. The Dundonald Ruins are more than just remnants of stone and wood. They are a link to Melbourne’s past, a reminder of a time when life moved at a different pace.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs