BANYOWLA REGIONAL PARK (formerly Kelmscott-Martin Regional Park) (pronounced ban-yow-la)
Banyowla was a Nyoongar elder at the time of European settlement. The territory marked by a line from Mangles Bay to the Darling Range was the land of the group headed by Banyowla. This area was said to extend south of the Beeliar district and included the banks of the Murray River.
Banyowla's people in Pinjarra were closely related and shared cultural links with the Beelu people moving between areas to celebrate festivals.
The history of Banyowla's people is linked with the name of Ellis, a soldier recognised by the naming of Ellis Brook in the Martin area. Ellis was involved in the Pinjarra battle.
The following reserves are in Banyowla Regional Park:
• Ellis Brook Valley
• Hardinge Park (City of Gosnells)
• Hillside Farm (City of Gosnells)
• Lloyd Hughes Park (City of Armadale)
Ref: DEC website.
Banyowla Regional Park is a large reserve covering most of the Darling scarp and part of the foothills between Orange Grove in the north and Roleystone and Kelmscott in the south. The northern part is in the City of Gosnells and the southern part in the City of Armadale. The park is managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the City of Gosnells and the City of Armadale and is named after Banyowla, a Noongar elder at the time of white settlement. The territory marked by a line from Mangles Bay to the Darling Range was the land of the group headed by Banyowla. This area was said to extend south of the Beeliar district and included the banks of the Murray River. Banyowla's people in Pinjarra were closely related and shared cultural links with the Beelu people moving between areas to celebrate festivals.The history of Banyowla's people is linked with the name of Ellis, a soldier recognised by the naming of Ellis Brook in the Martin area. Ellis was involved in the Pinjarra battle.
Tracks at the top of the scarp within Banyowla Regional Park can be accessed via Canning Mills Reserve (parking is available on Canning Mills Rd opposite Urch Rd). There are magnificent views all the way to Perth from here. There are also numerous tracks in the area bounded by Chevin Rd, Canning Mills Rd and Brockway Rd.
Further down Canning Mills Road, there are popular walking tracks along the Contour Channel (parking is available in a pull-in south of View Rd). The contour channel was built in the mid 1930’s to carry water from Canning Dam to the foothills above Gosnells and then by pipeline to Perth. Carefully cross the road and walk a short distance downhill to the gate with a sign on it and continue for a few metres to the Contour Channel. The track on the western side is flat and an easy walk until the point where a pipeline takes the water across the Wright Brook valley to the channel on the other side. The track on the eastern side is narrower and passes through lovely scarp vegetation. It is a 3.5 km round walk to the end of the Contour Channel where the old filtration plant used to be. This part of the Contour Channel can also be accessed from tracks leading from Mills Road East near the truck arrester bed (but park well clear of this). Many other tracks lead down and across the scarp from here. The wider ones are visible on Google maps.
Ellis Brook Valley Reserve is a popular walking and picnicking spot within Banyowla Regional Park and is cared for by Friends of Ellis Brook Valley in partnership with the City of Gosnells. Lloyd Hughes reserve and Clifton Hills Bushland are parts of the park near the base of the scarp within the City of Armadale. The Clifton Hills Bushland in Kelmscott covers an area of about 30 ha and includes the 19.9 ha Connell Ave Bushland and a section of Wright Brook which meanders through the area. The Friends of Banyowla Regional Park, Clifton Hills assists in activities to enhance the biological and recreational value of the area.
Wildflowers can be seen all year round in Banyowla Regional Park but are most abundant in spring; many of the species found on the scarp and in the foothills are not found elsewhere in Roleystone. Over 420 species of plant including 33 species of orchid have been identified in the southern half of the park
For a full list of the plants with photographs and their identifying features go to Roleybushcare’s Flora database at https://roleybushcare.com.au/flora-database.
For further information on the Contour Channel see https://www.roleybushcare.com.au/information/bush-trails/263-canning-contour-channel and https://www.perthhillsarmadale.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/documents/Heritage_Country_Armadale_Walks_and_Trails_0.pdf
