Fotheringham Reserve is a large River Red Gum woodland located near Dandenong's city center.
With 16 hectares of public open space, it offers a variety of recreational activities for residents and tourists. Visitors can enjoy bushwalking, cycling, bird watching, picnics, and even bring their dogs to the off-leash area. The reserve also has playgrounds, picnic areas, barbeques, cricket nets, sports ovals, tennis courts, and walking and cycling trails.
The Friends of Fotheringham Reserve Environment Group organizes regular activities in collaboration with the council, such as working bees, planting days, and monitoring activities. These events are open to all and provide an opportunity to engage in conservation practices while having fun.
The Fotheringham Reserve Hall is available for hire and offers a comfortable space for meetings and functions. It has basic amenities like a kitchen, meeting rooms, and on-site parking. Booking requests should be submitted at least 20 days in advance, and it is important to familiarize yourself with the booking conditions, rates, and public liability insurance.
If you're interested in hiring council reserves, parks, or sporting grounds for events, you need to submit an application for casual use. Approval will be granted based on availability. There are conditions of hire to ensure safety and usability, such as cleaning the reserve, reinstating the area if rides are used, and paying for any damage caused. The use of turf wickets in sporting grounds requires formal approval from the council, and priority usage is given to sporting clubs with seasonal allocation.
To reach Fotheringham Reserve, visitors can access it via the Eastlink Bike trail or by car. Driving directions include taking the South Gippsland Freeway, turning left onto