Blackburn Lake Sanctuary

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary
Blackburn Lake, looking south
Type	Public Park
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Coordinates	37°49′34″S 145°09′43″E / 37.826°S 145.162°E / -37.826; 145.162Coordinates: 37°49′34″S 145°09′43″E / 37.826°S 145.162°E / -37.826; 145.162
Area	30 ha (74 acres)
Established	1889
Operated by	Whitehorse City Council
Status	Open
Paths	Unsealed bush paths
Terrain	Bushland, lake
Water	Blackburn Lake, Kooyongkoot Creek
Vegetation	Australian native plants, wildflower farm, palm trees
Connecting transport	Train, bus, car
Facilities	Toilets, playground, visitors centre, seating and shelters

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is an example of regenerated and remnant bushland in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Blackburn. It is the most significant of the many parks in the City of Whitehorse, featuring areas of regenerated bushland and various walking tracks.

In 1889 the Kooyongkoot Creek was dammed forming Blackburn Lake, at the centre of the sanctuary. The park has a diverse history revolving around the human usage of the lake and surrounding bushland, which by the 1960s left the lake in particular, very polluted. Although still polluted today, the late 20th century saw much regenerative planting and protection measures by local residents and community groups which has halted and in some places reduced pollution. Today, the park is home to a variety of local wildlife, including Pacific black ducks and herons. The sanctuary also features a variety of other birds, as well as possums and sugar gliders.

In 1889 the lake itself was formed when Gardiners Creek was dammed to provide water for local fruit growers. The lake grew in popularity as a tourist destination, with visitors from Melbourne travelling two hours by steam train to reach it. During the 1890s, artist Frederick McCubbin of the famed Heidelberg School lived briefly near the lake, where he painted works including "Down on his Luck" and "The Bush Burial".

In 1909 the Adult Deaf Society purchased the land surrounding the lake, where they established a hospice and a flower farm. In 1964 the Society sold the lake and the land around it to the Melbourne Water board, and in 1965 the area was declared a sanctuary. Later public purchases increased the size of the sanctuary until it reached its current size in 1992. The Visitor Centre was refurbished in 1991 to accommodate an expanded education programme.