Jells Park

About

The Jells Park is a 127-hectare (314-acre) metropolitan park located in Wheelers Hill, a southeastern suburb of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. Opened on 30 April 1976, the park is named in honour of Joseph Jell, a cattle grazier who worked in the area in the mid-late 1800s. Located on the western bank of the Dandenong Creek, the park contains 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) of paths for cycling and walking, including Scotchmans Creek Trail, EastLink Trail, and Dandenong Creek Trail which connects to Blind Creek Trail. Situated on the traditional land of the Wurundjeri Woi‐wurrung, Jells Park is managed by Parks Victoria as part of the Dandenong Valley Parklands, a collection of public parks and open space reserves along the Dandenong Creek. In 2016, the park attracted in excess of 900,000 visitors a year.

Whilst a significant part of Jells Park has been cleared and revegetated, its biodiversity is still significant, forming part of the Dandenong Creek wildlife corridor. Under the ecological vegetation class system, it is predominantly swampy woodland and swampy riparian woodland.

The park is home to the man-made Jells Lake, with two jetties where recreational fishing is a popular activity. European carp are present in large numbers in the wetland and have become a significant concern for its biodiversity. The lake is abutted by a grassed picnic area on the northwest, whilst an area of remnant bush surrounds the rest of the lake. This bush also contains a bird hide which can be used to spot a variety of native bird species such as Australasian swamphens, pelicans, Eurasian coots, dusky moorhens, and several species of ducks.

Jells Park contains an extensive network of shared use paths for cycling, walking, and running. The Dandenong Creek Trail runs north—south through the park. Scotchmans Creek Trail also runs through the park from the west, connecting with Dandenong Creek Trail in the south east corner. EastLink Trail skirts the southern edge of the park. A little further north of the park, the Blind Creek Trail comes in from the east and also terminates at the Dandenong Creek Trail.

The Conservation Trail follows the eastern side of the lake past billabongs and wetlands. The bird hide is accessible from this path.

Most trails through the park are paved but some are firm gravel. Paths are generally well signposted and suitable for prams. Dogs are permitted on-lead in much of the park, except for the areas of remnant bushland where they are prohibited.

There is a visitor centre in the north west of the park which is run by Parks Victoria and incorporates a cafe and toilet block.

Two ovals in the south of the park are frequently used for sporting activities and are open for public access at other times.

The park is popular for picnics and barbecues, with playgrounds at Yabby Hill. In late 2018, the remaining wood-burning barbecues were removed in favour of the newer gas ones, leaving eight gas barbecues remaining. The park incorporates the following picnic areas:

- 1848 – Divided into several holdings – section including today's Jells Park licensed to Joseph Jell & James Ramsay

- 23 April 1853 – Land Parish of Mulgrave drawn giving Joseph Jell pre-emptive claim to 129 hectares (320 acres)

- July 1855 – Title issued to Joseph Jell

- 1906 – Ownership transferred to the Caledonian and Australian Mortgage and Agency Company Limited

- 12 November 1910 – Purchased at auction by Thomas Stephens

- 1919 – Subdivided in two with the northern 65 hectares (160 acres) (Jells Park) retained by Thomas Stephens; and the southern 65 hectares (160 acres) sold to Leonard Sydney Henry Stott

- 14 November 1936 – Willed to Amanda Florence Stephens & Norman Thomas Stephens

- 22 January 1937 – Sold to Alexander McKenzie (property managed by George William Herring)

- 18 August 1947 – Willed to Roberta Florence Bennett, Annie Margaret Muriel McKenzie, Edna Georgina Alice Wainwright & John Alexander McKenzie

- 13 October 1949 – Sold to George William Herring & Violet Florence Emily Matilda Herring

- 1969 – Sold to Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works