TIRHATUAN – THE NAME
The
first settler in all of the area
east of Dandenong Creek was a Scottish Presbyterian minister, Rev James
Clow, whose Corhanwarrabul pastoral run extended for approximately 36
square miles to the foot of the Dandenongs. In August 1838, Clow
obtained the squatting rights for this land and he established his
homestead in 1841 to the north of Wellington Road, a couple of hundred
metres from the present bridge over the Dandenong Creek. He named his
homestead “TIRHATUAN” which was believed to be the local Aboriginal word for the sugar glider
possum that can still be found in the area.
James
and his son had not been particularly successful squatters, but the
purchase of two acres in Swanston Street, near the current Myer store
site, eventually made them both wealthy men. It seems that the abandoned
homestead eventually tumbled down in the 1860’s.
After that time,
the Police Paddocks land west of Stud Rd between the Creek and Brady Rd was partly cleared open farmland, subject
to periodic flooding from the Creek. Early maps show the area as a "marsh".
TIRHATUAN – THE GOLF COURSE
Many
years ago the local shire, with
commendable foresight, decided that, should the area ever be seriously flooded,
Dandenong must be saved. With this aim in mind, a retarding basin was
built and Tirhatuan Park Golf Course was built within the retarding
basin. The theory was that if a severe flood hits, then Dandenong would
be protected and the course would be submerged. Thankfully this has
never happened and there is probably little chance of an event in the
future.The first nine holes were
opened in November 1978, and the second nine holes in February 1982.
TIRHATUAN PARK AND WETLANDS
Tirhatuan Park is a beautiful open space
park located in Dandenong North. This park, adjacent to Stud Rd, forms part of the Dandenong Creek vegetation corridor,
providing important habitat for our native flora and fauna. The Dandenong Creek bike and walking trail meanders through the
relaxing natural surrounds of the 20 hectare park, which includes two lakes, a wetland, boardwalks and beautiful bushland.
It is home to the endangered Plains Grassy Wetland Ecological Vegetation Class, which provides habitat for many
species of frogs, insects and birds, including the endangered Latham’s Snipe (Gallinagi hardwickii) which visits
the park from Japan each year.
