Our fifteenth walk takes us northerly “from village to village” (about 6km), from Burwood to Mont Albert.
Starting in Burwood Village (Melway 60G6), walk westerly from Warrigal Road to the second street heading north from Toorak Road – Fairview Avenue. It may not have a street sign, but it has large street trees and is almost opposite Queens Parade.
This is an attractive street with many traditional gardens around older homes, and runs gently downhill. At the end of Fairview Avenue, turn left into Oxford Street, then right into Joffre Street. As you pass Thomas Street, you may like to explore the lovely small park, Through Road Reserve, with its playground and great seats. After you do this, continue north along Joffre Street. The next street on the right is Morey Street – turn into it, and after about 100m there is an entrance into a much larger park (Cooper Reserve). Walk through Cooper Reserve on the western side, where there is a popular playground, seats and a toilet. Sitting near the playground gives a good view over the reserve.
Leave Cooper Reserve, turning left along Green Street, and you will reach Through Road in a few minutes, where you turn right, continuing north to the tempting Through Road Shops. Cross Riversdale Road, and continue north between the shops and a small car park for just 30m to a walking track on the left (also more-or-less northerly). A little farther on, keep left of both the kindergarten and the playground, taking in the information signs and still continuing roughly north. This path leads to a wetland area. There are two junctions in the wetland area – take the right fork at both of them. When you reach a road, cross directly into a blocked street (Rose Avenue).
At the end of Rose Avenue, cross busy Warrigal Road and walk along Mathilde Road, then right (south) into Russell Street, left into Scottsdale Street and left again into Royal Lane. At the end of Royal Lane, go right into Belmont Street. (This all sounds complicated, but it looks OK “on the ground”). At the end of Belmont Street, you will see Edyvean Street slightly to your left. At the end of it you will see a very small park entrance (to your north) beside a tennis club. This path winds uphill through Harding Street Reserve, and, yes, you guessed it, we will be going past the Surrey Hills Communication Tower, reviled by many, but recognised as a very important historical structure by others; and certainly seen by possibly millions of motorists. However, there is something else to see prior to reaching the tower. As you ascend this park path, you reach a real highlight, a lookout platform, with a seat and panoramic views of the eastern suburbs and city, as would be expected from this most prominent hill.
Continue north past the tower, cross busy Canterbury Road, walk west (to your left) past the reservoir, admiring more great city views. Turn first right into Benwerrin Road, which is also a 10-minute gentle downhill stroll past many interesting houses. At another very small park there is an interesting heritage sign. Walk westerly from it into Windsor Crescent, then take the first street on your right (Louise Avenue). Five minutes away, cross Mont Albert Road (We have traffic lights here) and wander through Mont Albert towards the railway station. It certainly has a “village” feel, a variety of interesting shops, including coffee shops, seating and a public toilet.
There are two choices for returning to Burwood: just near the corner of Louise Avenue and Mont Albert Road there is a bus stop (on the southern side) for route 766, which is easily the quicker way back – but check its timetable, because it can be “patchy”. Alternatively take any train heading east (Blackburn, Belgrave, Lilydale, etc.) just one stop to Box Hill, then catch SmartBus 903, heading towards Mordialloc.
