Enmore Park Plan of Management - Land

Conservation Management StrategyEnmore Park2.1 Historical TimelinePre 1788 The area now known as Enmore Park was an area of native vegetation. Geologically itcontains the clay soils derived from the Wianamata Shales. The area was part of the ‘Eora’nation and populated by the Cadigal people.1788 Arrival of Europeans and progressive occupation of the Sydney Basin from this time.c. 1810 35-acre grant to Wells’ of which the southwest section incorporates the land of Enmore Park.1883 Samuel Cook campaigns for park provision with a letter to Sir Alexander Stuart (politician)outlining that the localities of St Peters and Marrickville had no park.1885 10 acres of land resumed from original Wells’ grant (now under trustees of John Black) andvested in trustees on June 5 th .c. 1892 Central fountain constructed.1893 4 th May: first section of Marrickville Park (later to be known as Enmore Park) proclaimed.1896 12 th October: second section of Marrickville Park (later to be known as Enmore Park)proclaimed.1911 2 nd August: park was rededicated to the Municipality of Marrickville for public recreation.1919-1922 Concrete bandstand erected in replacement of central fountain, several drinking fountainsinstalled and paths asphalted.1923 Council formally approaches Minister of Lands for a variation of the Trust. Approval toconstruct tennis courts or similar active recreation facility was sought. Later that year aproposal to enclose a 3¾-acre sport ground with picket fence was put forward to the Minister.No apparent action on these.1920s Numerous local groups make applications to Council for access to the park for communityevents. Various letters also highlight the rundown and neglected state of the park during thistime.1924 Original fencing around the park removed.1926 Sole control of the park transferred to Council. It appears that Council’s intent was to pursuethe option of a formal active recreation area for cricket, football and cycling.c. 1927 Cricket pitch created in the southeastern corner of the park. Around this time Council alsogranted permission to several sporting bodies to train on Enmore Park. Movable soccer postswere allowed to be erected.1927 Council decided not to pursue active sports option for the park. Use of the park to traingreyhounds was also banned.1925-1927 Park’s name changed from Marrickville Park to Enmore Park, however these names wereinterchangeable for many decades.1930 Park defined by a haphazard line of canopy trees around its street boundaries with few internaltrees. Appears park was being used for facilities and events as the 1930 aerial indicates arange of small structures that may have been associated with a circus event or somethingsimilar.c. 1936 Substantial expansion and improvement works undertaken to many of the parks within theMarrickville area.1937 Funding allocated towards the construction of two stone entrances, and a tram shelter,constructed between 1937-1938 partly using relief labour.c. 1942 Park layout remains primarily unchanged. Zig-zagging elements located around the parksboundaries likely to have been facilities or features built for WWII purposes. These wereremoved by 1951.1944-1959 Park changed its name to D.V. Cochrane Park in honour of the Labor alderman and mayor,however after he failed to fall in line with Labor policy he was expelled from the party.1959 Name of park changed back to Enmore Park.1951-1970 Several major works occurred including the construction of the swimming complex (early1960’s), use of a large triangular area of the site to the south (unknown facility) and theconstruction of a Library, later a Children’s Resource Centre and now a child minding centre.c. 1992-4 Various upgrade works undertaken to Park including a new playground, brick paving ofthe main east-west pathway from Enmore Road, and some tree planting (mostly palms).Mayne-Wilson & Associates14Conservation Landscape Architects