December 2nd, 2025Rea-Lands Park safe

Daylesford’s Rea-Lands Park will remain a public park.
Mayor Cr Tony Clark said after significant community feedback, Hepburn Shire Council decided at its November 25 meeting that the Rea-Lands Park in Daylesford would remain a public park and not be subject to sale.
“An arrangement will be made for gardening and maintenance, and council reiterated its commitment to it remaining a public park. New signage to honour the legacy of Betty Rea will be added at the site,” he said.

The possible sale of the bequeathed Raglan Street land arose when Cr Lesley Hewitt moved a motion at the July Council meeting for an investigation into whether the land could be sold.
Cr Hewitt said at the time it was clear Mrs Rea, a former shire councillor and mayor, thought community was at the heart of everything she did. “And then the question is, what’s community benefit?”
Betty’s son Stefan Rea, a former Daylesford Police Officer for 10 years, told The Local in August that his mother asked for the land to be “bequeathed to the mayor, councillors and citizens of the Shire of Daylesford for the use and benefit of the citizens of Daylesford and for it to be named Rea-Lands Park”.
At the November meeting, the council decided it would sell seven properties across the shire, with five identified as suitable for affordable housing.
Cr Clark said the council had consulted the community. “We are pleased that five of the seven properties have been identified as suitable sites for affordable housing. Supporting accessible and affordable housing is a key priority in our Council Plan, because everyone deserves a place that they can call home.”
The seven properties are: 79A Raglan Street, Daylesford*; 26 Raglan Street, Creswick*; 10 Camp Street, Clunes – “Camp Hill Site”*; 10 Semmens Avenue, Creswick*; 313 Clunes Road, Creswick*; 1 Armstrong Street, Daylesford; and 2 Creswick Road, Clunes. * Denotes suitable for affordable housing.
Proceeds of the potential sales, less the costs of disposal, will be invested in the establishment of a financial reserve to support grant co-contributions.
Words: Donna Kelly