Willinda Park, Greensborough is located at the end of Nell Street, Greensborough and is maintained by the

City of Banyule The City of Banyule is a local government area in Victoria, Australia in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was created under the Local Government Act 1989 and established in 1994 as an amalgamation of former councils. It has an area of ...

and the Willinda Park Committee of Management. Willinda Park has a polyurethane athletic track and is the home of Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre, Diamond Valley Athletic Club and Ivanhoe Harriers What is now Willinda Park was once market gardens owned by William and Beatrice Linda Holmes. Hence how the name Willinda was derived. In 1963 and following William's death the

Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) was a public utility board in Melbourne, Australia, set up in 1891 to provide water supply, sewerage and sewage treatment functions for the city. In 1992, the MMBW was merged with a number of sm ...

compulsorily acquired the majority of the Holmes property; a little over for drainage and sewerage purposes for the sum of 6927 pounds. As was common practice in these times the

made such land available to local councils as reserves, often for recreation purposes. In April 1967, Linda Holmes voluntarily transferred a further small triangular section of land approximately x x in size to the

Shire of Diamond Valley The Shire of Diamond Valley was a local government area about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1964 until 1994. History The name relates to the lowlands to the ...

for $650 to assist in accessing the larger portion of land. This smaller section of land is still easily identifiable today as it forms part of the entrance to the park giving the property on the left (21 Talbot Street) with the red brick wall an angular appearance. When the Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre formed in 1967 work began in earnest to find a suitable home. While the view was held that any existing reserve in the shire would be suitable, A K Lines Reserve in Watsonia sat on the top of the list. Prior to the centres first competition on 30 September 1967, Willinda Park which until that point in time had not been allocated to any sporting club was offered as a home by the

with Linda Holmes blessing. Initially the Park was little more than a paddock; with only a 300-metre athletic track being able to be accommodated. Over the ensuing decades vast improvements have been made to the track surface and the adjoining facilities. Greensborough Soccer Club played matches for men, women and boys here until 1986. Apart from three seasons when track improvement work was being undertaken; 1973/74 when competition was held at A K Lines Reserve, Watsonia. 1999/2000 and 2018/2019 when competition was held at Meadowglen International Athletic Stadium at Epping, athletic competition has been held at Willinda Park. Today Willinda Park is a dedicated state of the art athletic facility with an international standard surface and lighting enabling twilight competitions to be held.

Willinda Park Gallery

Image:Willinda Park 1970's.jpg, Willinda Park Circa 1975 Image:Willinda_Park_2005.JPG, Willinda Park 2005

Notes

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