Ringwood: Local History, Art and Play

Ringwood: History, Art and Play

Ringwood brings together local historical research, visual art and play opportunities at Ringwood Lake Park. The Ringwood & District Historical Society is dedicated to the heritage of Ringwood and its surroundings; the Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery covers a wide range of visual art. In the park, play trails among existing trees are complemented by a creek area for water and sand play. Ringwood thus offers several distinct themes for your trip.

Preserving and Sharing Local History

The Ringwood & District Historical Society preserves and shares the heritage and history of Ringwood and its surroundings. Its work includes research, caring for historical records and artefacts, as well as publications and lecture programs. Preservation and sharing go hand in hand: records and artefacts are among the materials preserved, while publications and talks are other ways of passing on the history. If you are interested in the history of a place, this combination makes both the care of the historical collection and the sharing of its significance a focus. Local historical work thus adds a perspective on Ringwood beyond individual artworks.

Maroondah Federation Estate

Maroondah Federation Estate is a community, cultural and arts facility at 32 Greenwood Avenue in Ringwood. It is located on the grounds of the former Ringwood Primary School and includes the Cultural Centre, the Lifestyle Centre and the Maroondah Access Gallery. The former school site gives the grounds a specific historical connection. At the same time, the Estate is more than its Gallery: the Cultural Centre and Lifestyle Centre are also part of the facility.

Visual Art at the Ringwood Arts Precinct

The Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery’s program includes contemporary and traditional visual art. This includes painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, photography, video, design, jewellery and installations; performance and multimedia artworks are also possible. This range brings together image-based works with three-dimensional, design-based and media forms, rather than focusing on a single genre. As part of the Ringwood Arts Precinct, the Gallery is a specific point of interest for travellers interested in different forms of visual expression.

Play Trails at Ringwood Lake Park

The playground at Ringwood Lake Park offers play trails among the existing trees. Play opportunities are found in the tree canopies, beneath the canopy trail and on the forest floor; there is also a creek area for water and sand play. The transition from the treetops to the forest floor gives the play trails a vertical dimension, while water and sand play offers a different focus. For families planning a visit with children, these are specific indications of the kinds of play opportunities available in the park.

The public toilets at Ringwood Lake Park include a Changing Places bathroom. Check the current status of the facility before your visit.

Explore Ringwood by Interest

For trip planning, these themes can be distinguished by interest: the Society represents local history and how it is shared, the Gallery offers diverse visual art, and the park has play trails and water and sand play. This can help you decide whether you want your stay to focus more on culture or play.

Discover more destinations: Wonthaggi, Tinamba, Korumburra, Trawool, Longwood, Marengo, Pimpinio, Beeac

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.