Glades Bay Park and Wulaba Track

A large stone marker in the ground, it sits in the shade of trees

In 1969, the National Trust reported that Glades Bay Reserve was an example of a foreshore area retaining sufficient elements of ‘naturalness’ to warrant retention and restoration.

They recommended that, ‘every effort should be made to maintain, restore and accentuate the natural qualities of this reserve’. After considerable public discussion, Council established the Glades Bay Native Gardens as part of the Ryde Centenary Celebrations in 1970.

The concept was that the park would be developed as an Australian wildflower garden.

In 1943, natural vegetation in this area was sparse with exposed sandstone and patches of clearing. Mangroves were scattered along the shoreline. In the development of the native garden, sandstone-lined garden beds were constructed and apparently planted with Australian species, but these were not of local stock. These beds may still be traced but the present ‘bush’ has regenerated from the mid-20th century cover and some of the planted species. Dense mangroves, some Phragmites reed swamp, and small patches of saltmarsh now line the riverbank.

Half of this land was in the Doody/Benson grant of 1795/96 and the remainder was in John Glade’s grant of 1802.

It is also one of the few places in Gladesville where evidence remains of the original inhabitants – the Wallumedegal. Their sites are interpreted along a newly refurbished walkway that goes through the park and along the river’s edge, past the site of Glades Bay Baths to Bill Mitchell Park. First constructed as the Wulaba Track in 2002 by Ryde Council in consultation with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, the track has a number of interpretive signs.

Location

Accessed from Delmare Parade, Ashburn Place, York Street and Glades Avenue, Gladesville 2111 View Map

Skip to below map

Skip to above map