Thanks to everyone who shared their feedback on our proposed reserve names. We’re excited to announce that the names have now been finalised and lodged with council: Melliodora Reserve, Flax Lily Reserve and Papaya Reserve.
Each name carries its own story, drawing inspiration from native flora, the surrounding environment and the places that make up the community. Let’s uncover the story behind each one.
Melliodora Reserve
Stage 25 Cultural Heritage Reserve (between Blackthorne Rise and Carmine View, Clyde Vic 3978)
Status: complete and now open to the public
Melliodora Reserve takes its name from Eucalyptus Melliodora, the Yellow Box tree, a native honey-producing eucalypt that provides important habitat for possums, lizards and nectar-eating birds. Designed as a welcoming place to connect with the outdoors, the reserve features a winding path through native planting and landscaping, large natural logs and dedicated seating areas where residents can meet, pause and enjoy the surrounds.
The sense of community and gathering has deep roots here. This is Bunurong Country, where Bunurong people have gathered, moved through and cared for the land for thousands of years. Their deep understanding of Country and its natural cycles shaped how the landscape was used and cared for, allowing it to rest, recover and regenerate. Today, the reserve’s design seeks to recognise this connection to Country, while providing a place for the community to come together and enjoy the landscape.
Flax Lily Reserve
Greenlink (Cerulean Promenade, Clyde Vic 3978)
Status: complete and now open to the public
Named after the Flax Lily, part of the Dianella genus, this resilient native plant is known for its distinctive blue-violet flowers. The name draws a subtle connection to the colours of nearby Clyde Creek and the waterways that have shaped this landscape over thousands of years.
To the north, Clyde Creek widens into a series of small seasonal wetlands, while to the south its waters eventually connect with Bunurong Country’s coastal waterways. These waters once supported the Short-finned Eel, an important food source for Bunurong people.
While the landscape has changed over time, Clyde Creek remains an important thread through Riverfield. Today, Flax Lily Reserve provides a green connection through the community, linking the landscape and waterways that inspired its name.
Papaya Reserve
Stage 27 Cultural Heritage Reserve (Papaya Way, Clyde Vic 3978)
Status: under construction, with completion anticipated before the end of the year.
Papaya Reserve takes its name from its own address on Papaya Way, creating a simple connection between the reserve and its place within the Riverfield community. Beyond its name, the reserve tells a rich story of the plants of Bunurong Country and their traditional uses for food, tools and everyday life.
Across many generations, the Bunarong people have maintained, cared and lived with the resources of this Country. Plants found across the landscape served many purposes: Spiny-headed Mat-rush was woven into baskets and eel traps, while flora including Murnong Yam Daisy, Swamp Gum and Black Wattle provided food, materials and tools. Native food-bearing plants also provided an important source of nourishment for people and local wildlife.
Once complete, Papaya Reserve will bring many of these species back into the landscape, creating a green space that acknowledges the cultural and natural heritage of the area while providing a place for the community to enjoy.
What these names mean at Riverfield
The reserves at Riverfield are more than names on a map. Each reflects a connection to the landscape, natural environment and cultural heritage of the area, giving residents an opportunity to learn more about the place they call home.
Signage will be installed at each reserve, sharing more about the meaning behind its name, and the stories that have shaped the area.
Melliodora Reserve and Flax Lily Reserve are now open and ready to explore, with Papaya Reserve to welcome visitors later this year.
Interested in life at Riverfield? Contact us to explore available land and house & land opportunities.