Bridging the Bush to Beach

Celebrating 30 years with Melon Hill Bushland Group

What can 30 years of continuous care achieve? Join the Melon Hill Bushland Group (MHBG) for a guided walk through one of Perth’s hidden treasures to find out.

The Melon Hill bushland is nestled into Allen Park in Swanbourne.  Allen Park itself is far more than meets the eye.  Despite its relatively small size, this regionally significant A-Class Reserve combines outstanding biodiversity, a bush-forever site, rich heritage, community spaces and wonderful scenery into a unique and accessible destination.

As we walk from bush to beach and back again, you’ll experience spectacular panoramic views stretching from the Perth skyline to Rottnest Island and along the coast from Fremantle to Scarborough. Along the way, you’ll learn about the threatened ecological communities and remarkable wildlife that call this area home, including the critically endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoo, as well as Red-tailed Cockatoos, quenda, owls, wrens and many other native species.

The bushland forms part of an important network of biodiversity corridors that help connect and sustain nature and people across the metropolitan area and the walk includes parts of the nationally significant Bush to Beach section of the Whadjuk Walking Trails.

This walk will also tell some of the story of Allen Park itself—a place shaped by the vision of John Allen, community effort, and decades of stewardship.

For 30 years, MHBG has worked in partnership with the City of Nedlands to restore and care for this important natural asset.  What was once degraded bushland now demonstrates the extraordinary difference that sustained community action can make. Yet the story is far from over. As Perth continues to grow and change, the challenges—and opportunities—have never been greater.

Come with us

Whether you’re interested in nature, local history, conservation, walking trails or simply discovering a special place in your own backyard, this walk offers a unique opportunity to see Allen Park through new eyes.  On this guided walk you’ll discover:

• The fascinating history of Allen Park and Melon Hill
• How 30 years of restoration has transformed the bushland
• Threatened species and ecological communities, and the wildlife this area supports
• The importance of biodiversity corridors in an urban environment for both nature and people
• The origins of the Bush to Beach section of the Whadjuk Walking Trails
• Some of the best views on Perth’s western suburbs coastline.

Join us at Allen Park

Meeting Point: Meet at 9:45 am on Sunday 16 August at the Heritage Precinct, Allen Park (adjacent to the main car park), finishing there at 11:30 for something to eat.

Getting There: Parking at the main car park (turn off Kirkwood Rd onto Clare Copse).  Swanbourne and Grant Street stations are both around a 20-minute walk. Buses from the City are 27 (get off at Servetus St/Brassey St), or the 102 (get off at North St/Kirkwood Rd)

Good to know: Closed shoes and moderate fitness (if you wish to climb up to the top of Melon Hill).  All ages welcome.

Numbers: capped at 30. We will run a waitlist.

Come and celebrate 30 years of restoration, discovery and community action—and help us imagine the next 30 years of caring for this remarkable community asset.