Newells Paddock in Footscray is a hidden gem – protected wetlands just a hop, skip and a jump from Melbourne’s CBD in Footscray, between Ballarat Road and the train lines along the banks of the Maribyrnong River.
It is a surprising respite from the surrounding industrial and residential area, and a beautiful space to visit with family or friends for some nature exploration. There are also great views of the city and the nearby Heavenly Queen temple.
Newells Paddock wetlands are a rare type of environment as it is both freshwater and saline. This means that you’ll find unusual species of indigenous plants. There are also multiple types of ecosystems within the relatively small park, with woodland, reeds and rushes, open space and semi-aquatic plants.
It is also one of the best bird-watching spots near Melbourne CBD. There have been over 100 species of birds spotted at Newells Paddock Wetlands Reserve, some of which are settled there and others that stop over.
Play Bird Bingo while you’re at Newells Paddock urban park, and see how many of the following commonly spotted species you can identify:
- Black Swans
- Black-front Plover
- Buff-banded Rail
- Crested Pigeons
- Ducks
- Masked Lapwing
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Purple Swamphen
- Red-rumped Parrot
- Royal Spoonbill
- Superb Blue Wren
- Welcome Swallow
Other wildlife also inhabits the area, with habitat boxes installed to house animals such as possums and microbats. There are frogs in the wetlands, and a Frog Census helps to monitor the species and the reflection this has on Melbourne’s waterways.
Aboriginal people have lived in the Maribyrnong River Valley for at least 40 000 years, and the Wurundjeri tribe of the Kulin Nation. The river flats were a valuable resource to gather food.
Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Newells Paddock, Footscray
This area was settled by Europeans in the 1830s, and Newells Paddock was later used for both recreational and industrial purposes. It is named after David Newell, the Mayor of Footscray. He had accepted a contract and was dumping night soil at the paddock.
At the end of the 1800s, the paddock was Parkside Football Club’s home ground, and after that, it was a holding yard for livestock destined for the Angliss Meatworks. The stock bridge over the Maribyrnong River, which still exists today as a footbridge connecting Kensington to Footscray, serves as a reminder of this history.
After Angliss’ Siding, a rail link to the Angliss Meatworks, closed in 1970, Newells Paddock was restored to contain the natural waterholes that occurred prior to white settlement, and is now preserved as a natural wetlands park.
Friends of Newells Paddock has worked to restore the flora to mimic what was there prior to the 1850s, with over 4000 plants planted. They have planting and maintenance events scheduled periodically, and you can see the details at the Friends of Newells Paddock Facebook Page if you’d like to contribute.
Barbecue and picnic facilities are available at Newells Paddock urban nature park, as well as a basketball hoop and soccer grounds outside the protected wetland area.
You can access Newell’s Paddock from Jamieson Avenue (which is also where the carpark is located), or if you’d prefer to cycle or walk, paths through the area connect to the Maribyrnong River Trail.
Visit nearby Footscray Park Playground, Quarry Park or Pipemakers Park
Explore more at Cheetham Wetlands, Point Cook Coastal Park
These images were taken by a Melbourne photographer who is taking Lockdown Portraits
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”] Tips for Newells Paddock:
- Barbecue and picnic table
- Access via Jamieson Avenue, off Ballarat Road
- Paths leading to the Maribyrnong River Trail
- Soccer ground and basketball hoop in the western section
- Dogs are not allowed inside the Newells Paddock wetlands nature reserve but are allowed in the western section that is not a conservation area
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