Explorers Park

Explorers' Park is a small park of a specialised nature. The dedication plaque states its opening on 27 August 1988 is to commemorate the significance of the intersection of the Great Western Highway and the Hume Highway at Ashfield in this nation's history; as part of the Bicentennial Celebration. A pebble-crete main path runs the length of the park - parallel to Liverpool Road and closer to it - with three short side paths and six semi-circular widenings of that main path. In the main and side paths are circular metal plaques to the explorers Mitchell, Sturt, Leichhardt, Hume & Hovel, Cunningham, Eyre, Oxley, and Blaxland, Wentworth & Lawson. Each of the plaques has some brief text, etched portrait(s) and a map of their explorations - very well done to illustrate different journeys in different years. On the side of the main path are two, 4 metal panel displays with (more detailed) text and etched drawings and which outline "Aboriginal Sydney" (4 panels), "British Colonisation" (2 &2/3 panels) and "Early Local History" (1&1/3 panels), The "Early Local History" text elaborates a bit on why this site celebrates the explorers. Over essentially all of the main path and side paths is a silver metal frame supporting definitely deciduous climbing plants. In the hotter months the leaves would provide shade and some protection from rain, but the white painted metal benches for sitting are all on the semi-circular widenings of the main path with no cover at all. There is no seating elsewhere in the park (aside from one small seat without cover near the entrance near a Red Rooster restaurant) and further away from the noise of the busy roads that form the relevant intersection; there is room for more native flowering bushes to be planted and their absence is noticeable - as was a sighting of any birds (excluding a red rooster) or bird sounds; there is no drinking fountain/water tap; no picnic place; no waste bin; and no structure with complete cover or toilet facilities. I anticipate the next door Red Rooster restaurant is expected to provide some ancillary services to the park. The white metal seats are discoloured, but wiping them indicates they are not "dirty", and the path plaques are in pretty fair condition for their age, if a couple could do with spruce up, Asphalt patching has been used to prevent lifting pebble-crete path panels from being a trip hazard. A lovely green place to take a relaxing and unexpectedly informative break if travelling through this area, especially on foot. Suited more for just a short break only, even if you read all the plaques and panels. Supported with a few more differently located seats, new plantings, cover from bad or extreme weather, some other things noted, and maybe some supplement to the original history plaques and panels (could the Inner West Council support and maintain some "street libraries" in the park concentrating on the same history) it could be more attractive to a visit just to see the park or a longer visit. Of course, in the context of the historical road intersection, a little further along Parramatta Road, or a little further along Liverpool Road and then down Gower Street (4 minutes walk), is the excellent and large community park of Ashfield Park, with park features that Explorers' Park lacks. To the extent that Explorers' Park could arguably be seen as a special "satellite" park of Ashfield Park in terms of a park(s) visit, that probably must be taken into account when rating it separately. So, perhaps somewhere between three and four stars if I could, in the end.

Chairs around the place however no playground or bathroom does have thing about history of the explorers

Explorers Park is small park commemorating the pioneering explorers of Australia's early colonial history. It is located at the intersection of Parramatta and Liverpool Roads, where many of these explorers began their journey from Sydney.

Small park with plaques of all the explorers names and history along the covered walkway it also has the 3 flags flying from flagpoles the Australian, Aboriginal and English flags

A very nice little park on the corner of two main roads with a nice representation of history and the novel (in most of country) Upper Murray River Flag beside other Australian flags. A quaint spot in a busy area