August 14th, 2025Cr Hewitt asks: ‘Can we sell bequeathed park?’
A Hepburn Shire Council decision to ask for community feedback on selling seven of its properties around the shire, three for affordable housing, has been overshadowed by a request that CEO Bradley Thomas also look into the possibility of selling Rea Lands Park in Raglan Street, Daylesford.
Rea Lands, now a public park and food garden, was bequeathed to the people of Daylesford by former Shire President and Councillor Betty Rea.
At the July council meeting, Cr Lesley Hewitt moved a motion saying she wanted an investigation into whether the land could be sold.
“I am aware that there are a number of projects in Daylesford, Hepburn Springs and surrounds that will require co-contributions by council and this is potentially an opportunity to get that funding. So I would like to see whether or not that’s possible.”
Cr Hewitt later told The Local the land had been left by Betty Rea for the community benefit of the people of Daylesford.
“Mrs Rea, it’s clear from our understanding of the sort of person that she was, that community was at the heart of everything she did. And then the question is, what’s community benefit? And is its current usage, a community benefit?
“It’s just looking at it (and) getting more information to try to make what would be the best use of that land in line with Betty Rea’s wishes, because that’s important and I would be certainly respecting that.”
Just two of those, and there are many more voicing their protest on social media, who would be disappointed to see the site turn into housing are Robert Burrowes and Anita McKone, pictured above, and Anita, below.
The couple moved to the region in 2012 and, without their own garden, signed up to help out the Daylesford Community Food Gardeners a year later – an organisation given a lease for the land by the council in 2012.
“The public park as gifted by ex-mayor Betty Rea was still in its original form of a very large grassed area with a small number of large trees, including the two impressive pines, and the picnic table and seat, before the Gardeners took over development and management in 2011,” Anita said.
“Patrick Jones has organised many working bees at Rea Lands involving members of the Daylesford Community Food Gardeners. Since December 2013, Robert and myself have contributed between 200 and 400 hours of voluntary labour every year until now, 2025, as well as over a thousand dollars of plants, tools, trellising and organic inputs.
“Some hundreds of dollars and many practical inputs, such as rail sleepers for edging garden beds, mulch, compost and plants, have been donated by others in the community. Permaculture founder David Holmgren gave expert advice in the early years.
“The garden now boasts over 50 more trees, three hedges, a large variety of bushes, ground covers and flowers, as well as a small vegetable plot. Many of the fruit trees are just coming into their capacity for fruiting well, including the two avocados we planted in 2015 (and nursed over the winter for the first couple of years).
“There is also a lovely native Bunya pine that is now several metres tall and will eventually grow to match the Norfolk Island pine nearby. The Bunya pine holds deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance for many First Nations peoples.
“One of the valued features of the garden is that it is eclectic, because we have been achieving a number of different goals – it is not only a community organic food source, but a public park where visitors come to wander and enjoy – so adequate shade, colour and overall shape of the garden beds have been of concern.
“Because it is a voluntary working organic food garden, as well as a public park, Rea Lands has a somewhat ‘wild’ look about it at times. Many people who visit the garden say that this is what they like about it.
“I see Rea Lands as a significant and successful addition to the mosaic of Daylesford gardens, that also has key environmental and food sustainability aspects and heritage value. It deserves to be retained in public hands for the ongoing benefit of the community as a whole.”
Robert said depending on season and weather, people came to the park to meditate, walk their dog, pick up some gardening advice, have their kid’s birthday party or even hold an Easter egg hunt.
“And it’s got a couple of huge pine trees and a big gum tree and we’ve planted more which will take 30 years to grow. We won’t be here to see it but hopefully plenty of people in the future will.
“That was the plan. That’s why it’s a bit disappointing. You don’t plant trees to have them bulldozed down. And we thought it was generous of Betty, pictured below at a fundraiser, to give it to the community and allow it to be dedicated for the community’s benefit.
“It was a generous gift, and we like to think we’re using it in a way that she’d be happy about. It’s in her name, so that’s a nice memorial to her contribution.”
Words: Donna Kelly | Top: Debora Mermadeit | Middle & Bottom: Contributed
