H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens, public gardens in Melbourne, Australia
H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens is a public garden in Sunshine, Victoria, Australia, spanning about eight acres and originally developed in 1909. The site features maintained lawns, flower beds, shaded areas, and historic structures that visitors encounter while walking through the grounds.
The gardens were established in 1909 as Sunshine Gardens to provide recreation for workers at the nearby factory. In 1953, the site was renamed H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens and transferred to local government management, and by the 1990s it gained recognition on the Victorian Heritage Register.
The gardens were created as a recreational retreat for workers at the nearby Sunshine Harvester Works factory. Today, this connection to working-class history remains visible, and the place continues to serve as a gathering space where the community experiences its own past.
The gardens are easy to explore on foot, with maintained pathways for walking throughout. Visitors planning to arrive in large groups or by bus should contact the Friends of McKay Memorial Gardens in advance to arrange parking and ensure proper access.
The gardens were the oldest of their kind in Australia and became known for cultivating chrysanthemums and dahlias that displayed bright colors during blooming seasons. These specialized flower varieties attracted visitors over many decades and shaped the place's local reputation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
