Afton Street Conservation Reserve

The Afton Street Conservation Reserve is situated along the middle reaches of the Maribyrnong River in Essendon West, Melbourne.

In the late-1800s and early-1900s, the northern end of the site was quarried for sand, which significantly changed the topography of this area in ways that are still visible today.

The topography of the site was further altered by the construction of the North West Sewer later in the 20th century; spoil from which was spread over the southern part of the reserve.

[1] The conservation park was purchased by Moonee Valley City Council in October 2003 for AU$900,000.

[5] A master landscape plan was issued for the site and won a number of design awards.

Sand mining in what is now the Afton Street Conservation Reserve, circa 1910
The military bridge can be seen in this aerial photograph from 1953