Named after a horse breeding property owned by Henry “Money” Miller, Mill Park is a residential suburb north-east of Melbourne’s CBD. In the 1950s, its quarries provided a source of materials that were used to build many of Melbourne’s earliest skyscrapers. Mill Park is now dotted with recreational areas and on the doorstep of the Plenty Gorge.
Things to do in Mill Park
If you’re travelling with kids, there are several playgrounds where they can let off some steam, including Mimosa Park and Prince of Wales Park. The suburb also encompasses the Mill Park Recreational Reserve, which features a ranch-inspired adventure playground with slides, a fireman’s pole and a flying fox.
Need a retail fix? You can browse the fashion, electronics and homewares stores clustered in the Westfield Plenty Valley, which also features a Target, a Kmart and a large food court. Alternatively, head south for grocery shopping at The Stables Shopping Centre or relax with a coffee at Frankie’s Cafe within the Mill Park Plaza.
On the eastern edge of Mill Park sprawls the Plenty Gorge Parklands, which are traversed by a network of hiking trails that offer up-close encounters with the resident wildlife. You can birdwatch in the Morang Wetlands or the Yellow Gum Recreation Area, try your luck at fishing in Blue Lake or visit the historic homestead in the Hawkstowe Picnic Area. For spectacular views across the Plenty Gorge, visit the Middle Gorge area to discover scenic trails and a lookout.
Getting around Mill Park
Mill Park is around 40 minutes’ drive from Melbourne’s CBD and just 25 minutes from Melbourne Airport. Regular trains connect to the South Morang railway station on the northern edge of the suburb while buses travel throughout Mill Park.