Our local parks are more important than ever now that Bayside residents must stay within our LGA or a 5km radius.
Rockdale Park, once known as Tunks' Paddock, was purchased by Rockdale Municipal Council in 1899 for £700 (about $110,000 in today's money).
It was officially opened on 2 November 1901 by the local State member, J.H. Carruthers, who declared the desirability of planting it with Australian timbers, particularly pine and eucalyptus. These trees are still present today, along with some deciduous non-native trees and ornamental conifers.
In the past, parks were managed and maintained by groups of local trustees. Sometimes they charged admission as a way of raising funds for maintenance.
In 1938 the Rockdale Park Trustees handed over responsibility for the park to the local Council, who said that they would not keep it for the exclusive use of children, as they wanted to make it available to sporting groups for football, cricket and other games.
Bayside Council built a new water feature, playground and amenities block in Rockdale Park in 2020. The park is located on the corner of Bryant and West Botany Streets.
What do you like about Rockdale Park?
Tell us your favourite park and we'll do some research on it for #flashback Friday
Photographs from Bayside Council Libraries' Local History Collection.
