Fitzroy history – Cubbies adventure playground on Condell St
Courtesy of Fitzroy local history photograph collection / ID: 16131 / photographer: unknown / copyright: library owns image / used under the fair dealings provisions of the Copyright Act 1968
Cubbies adventure playground on Condell St has evidently existed for a long time, as this photo from 1975 shows a place that was definitely not recently created. They make it look like it has experienced a war or natural disaster; decline and abandonment are obvious. Until a few years ago the site looked like an occupational health and safety nightmare. Since then it has been cleaned up and made safe for a new generation of children from the Atherton gardens.
Courtesy of Fitzroy local history photograph collection / ID: 16130 / photographer: unknown / copyright: library owns image / used under the fair dealings provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 / c 1975
Courtesy of Fitzroy local history photograph collection / ID: 6974 / photographer: Mario Cotela / copyright: library owns image / used under the fair dealings provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 / c 1980
In doing some research on the playground I found some helpful documents online. From this 2001 page I found the mission statement and a list of recent improvements:
Fitzroy Adventure Playground (Cubbies) is a free play space located beneath the Fitzroy Housing Estate. The playground acts as a casual, drop-in service and a “backyard” for local 6-16 year olds by providing the opportunity to play freely and creatively at no financial cost in a safe, secure environment. Fitzroy Adventure Playground also provides programmes and activities for newly arrived young refugees and other young people, primarily from the Atherton Gardens Housing Estate.
The Fitzroy Adventure Playground has been undergoing a process of redevelopment over the past few years. The playground now has a newly constructed straw-bale building that functions as a recreation room, kitchen, toilets and office. The building is an example of sustainable design which also houses a grey-water system for toilet flushing and watering the garden.
In 2004 the Atherton Garden’s own community website reported that:
The State Government has granted $195,000 to upgrade the Cubbies Fitzroy Adventure Playground. The grant will extend the current playground in King William Street to make it an even more exciting and safe place to go after school each day, and during the school holidays. Work will begin early in 2005. A new flexible space will be built, plus kitchen, toilets and office.
A 2007 report on local MLA Richard Wynne’s website states:
Young people will now be able to borrow all kinds of sports equipment ranging from bats and balls to bicycles. Neighbourhood Renewal has contributed $3,000 to the Atherton Gardens Estate in Fitzroy to ensure the library is stocked with sports equipment. These funds are sourced from the $25,000 Youth Recreation Grant from Office of Housing Client Services designed to benefit young people in Fitzroy and Flemington. The Library will be located at the Fitzroy Adventure Playground and will operate out of a 40m shipping container organised by Neighbourhood Renewal. The container is due to be delivered in April 2007.
You can see the shipping container in the grounds, along with rabbits, chickens and play equipment. The current appearance of Cubbies is a credit to all those involved in its rejuvenation and a great example of urban renewal in Fitzroy.
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September 16th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
you should post more about cubbies, it is an amazing place! so full of interesting stories!
people are welcome to drop in with their children to look at the rabbits/goose/ducks/chickens/swings. kids between 6-16 are welcome to come in and have fun doing painting or building or gardening for FREE in a safe supervised environment.
its a really cool down to earth place.
http://raws.adc.rmit.edu.au/~s3136248/IMG_0404.JPG
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September 16th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Thanks – good pic too! I have so many stories about Fitzroy it’s hard to do more than one on each place. I do particularly like the goose though.
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March 17th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
When i was a kid growing up in Fitzroy in the 1970’s, the cubbies were the ” Greatest place on Earth to be “. I kept rabbits, chooks, ducks and pigeons and as a matter of fact. I still keep and race pigeons today and i am now 43 and live up in Grafton on the New South Wales Far North Coast.
I treasure the time i spent their as a kid and i often think where is everyone today?
Joan Healy, Frank, Ian, Henry, Bruce, Jack and Shelly and Co were angels in disguise back then.
The ” Bless this House ” pigeon and chook loft, was built by my Late Father, my friends and me in 1976. That photo bring a big smile to my face.
I am actually ” Famous ” in Fitzroy for ” Falling off the Town Hall while trying to catch pigeons back in 1976. I suffer a fractured skull, 2 broken arms, busted nose and bruising like you wouldnt believe.
I havent been back since 1980, but am planning to go and have a look sometime this year?
Would love to here from anyone who remembers me from those days?
windlerpa@gmail.com
Kind regards
Paul Windler
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