Palmerville Heritage Park will allow Canberrans to explore one of the first European settlements in the area. Photo: City Services.
Work has started on a new loop trail for North Belconnen’s Palmerville Heritage Park, the ACT Government has announced.
Crews will build a 600-metre loop trail of raised boardwalks and gravel paths over the next four months to connect existing trails, allowing visitors to explore one of the Canberra region’s first European settlements.
The trail will join an existing path to create a 1.2-kilometre route through the park, passing the archaeological remains of the 1829 Palmerville settlement.
The government said the $971,000 project would make the park more accessible.
Construction of the path has required special design considerations during planning to compensate for flood-prone Ginninderra Creek nearby. The design also ensured no trees would be removed as part of the works.
Access to the park, an off-leash area for the community’s dog owners, will be unaffected by construction. The car park and existing gravel paths will remain open for use during construction.
“The park will remain a dog off-leash area during construction,” Member for Ginninderra Tara Cheyne said. “However, dog owners are required to ensure effective control to avoid dogs accessing the work site.
“There will be short temporary closures along the existing gravel path to allow for construction vehicles to move materials safely to the work site. Pedestrians and dogs may need to adjust their path of travel to avoid construction areas.”
Work will run Monday to Friday 7 am to 5 pm and on weekends 8 am to 4 pm over the next four months, according to Transport Canberra & City Services.
Palmerville trail loop extension. Photo: City Services.
Palmerville Heritage Park is considered an important site in Canberra’s history.
Its location was home to one of the first European settlements in the Canberra region. The homestead built in 1829 became one of the area’s first stores and post offices, and a convict barracks.
A handful of archaeological remains are still present on site.
The new trail’s announcement comes as the government releases budget commitments for Belconnen, promising improved active travel infrastructure, school and shop upgrades, and new playgrounds.
Information on construction and access can be found through the ACT Government website.
