Lincoln Square Carlton: Melbourne’s Oldest Playground Gets Epic Makeover

Leafy Lincoln Square in Carlton's southern end was home to the first public playground in Melbourne and Victoria, opened in 1907.

Now in 2021, it's had an epic playground makeover!

Lincoln Square Carlton Playground

The City of Melbourne started implementing the Lincoln Square Concept Plan in 2019 by converting the roadway into public open space and expanding the park by 3,000 square metres – roughly the size of six basketball courts.

The new playground has completely revamped the old, basic equipment to include play equipment that promotes imaginative, active and nature play for toddlers right up to tweens.

The Carlton playground has been designed around the shady 150-year-old Moreton Bay Figs by the team at the City of Melbourne responsible for the award-winning Royal Park Nature Play playground.

The Lincoln Square playground includes tall play towers connected by rope bridges and tunnels which older kids will enjoy navigating…

…with some twisty slides leading you back down to earth.

Other features include standing chimes, speaker tubes, a cute cubby house and swings.

If you're wondering why the logs have names of trees and street names, the timber play structures and features were built using wood salvaged from City of Melbourne trees.

When we're able to gather there are shady picnic areas and a free barbecue for public use.

There are also new lawn and garden beds, new trees, irrigation, improved footpaths, bike lanes and lighting.

If you need a drink or bite to eat, facing Lincoln Square is Hareruya a sunny Japanese eatery serving up classic Japanese bento boxes, baked goods and delicious Gelato. Their already popular gelato comes in eight delectable Japanese-inspired flavours such as matcha, yuzu and avocado yoghurt. After which you can choose between having it wrapped in mochi or sandwiched by rice wafers.

Lincoln Square's state-of-the-art play space brings some much-needed delight and excitement to Melbourne families and no doubt becomes one of our city's most loved playgrounds.

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Lincoln Square Carlton

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Other great City of Melbourne playgrounds – Royal Park Nature Play, Artplay Playground

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