When the late John Castle of the Jana Group contacted Paige and Wes Fleming to design him a legacy park in the rolling green hills of Warragul, they knew this was going to be something very special indeed.

Initial site inspections of the Crownlea development, highlighted gorgeous fertile hills, and sweeping vistas across the Warragul countryside providing ample scope for the imagination.

The site would include two parks located on prime land which the developer cleverly retained for the use of the community as a whole, rather than selling off at a huge premium for a private home.

The Fleming’s worked closely with their landscape architects at FLOW Design studio to harness the sites natural topography and vistas weaving designs for the parks that would act as a marriage and provide a real experience for visitors.

The smaller of the two parks was the first to be designed and constructed by Fleming’s Landscapes, and featured a playground that aimed to harness the natural water run off and create a wildly natural play space with the imagination in mind.

Taking the concept of a quarry, FLOW Design studio designed an inverted rock fortress, a wide range of natural play elements, a very cool cubby and play-house, swings, slides, climbing elements and even a bespoke hand-carved kitchenette.

Huge flat boulders, heaved from the hills of Yea, have been carefully placed to create a unique and interesting place for kids to play and naturally harness water and carry it down natural dry -creek beds and under bespoke built recycled timber bridges.

The second and main park sits atop of the hills and overlooks the first park and features tiers of rock pools cascading down the site providing three tiers of play spaces which include waterplay elements, swings, slides, totem poles and a unique shelter perfect for family and friends to gather and picnic.

A very cool basketball court tops off the area which is framed again by the large boulders – ideal for sitting on while watching kids throw a few hoops.

The open space areas are vast and Wes Fleming – seeing how fertile and excellent the soil of the site was, ensured the parks would be filled with his magnificent mature trees. Huge Acer (maples) feature for vibrant autumn foliage, natives will maintain a natural, evergreen look throughout the year, while avenues of flowering trees will herald the coming of spring and invite the birds and bees to enjoy the open space as much as any human.