Chinchilla Botanic Parklands QLD, Australia (2019)

A $5.9 million project that spans 4.2 hectares, co-funded by Western Downs Regional Council and the Queensland Government.

The town is known as Australia’s melon capital. It produces 25% of the country’s watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew, and hosts a biennial Chinchilla Melon Festival including a melon skiing event.

Honouring the iconic pink and green fruit, a custom designed Water Play Area is a showpiece of the Parkland’s playscapes.

“The watermelon theme resonates with Chinchilla; including it in this space is an appropriate way to celebrate this important symbol of cultural identity and enhance the native planting scheme used elsewhere,” says Parklands landscape architect Mandy Rounsefell, Director of Rounsefell Design.

Rounsefell collaborated with Playscape Creations on custom play equipment including a giant watermelon bucket that fills and cascades over, and pop-jets that spurt from watermelon wedges and the ground plane.

“We continued the watermelon theme throughout the Water Play Area, including the colour selection for the seats,” says Rounsefell.

Mall Sun Lounges for Chinchilla: three colour variations.

Five Mall Sun Lounges feature powdercoated battens in Pearl White, Lycra Strip Green, Viper Green, Shamrock Green and Telemagenta Pink – with three different colour stories.

“I wanted the sun lounges to have a sense of fun and variety. The batten colours are tailored, one seat is majority pink and white, another is shades of green, and three are multicoloured. I like that they’re all a little bit different, to delight the families who will use the space.”

The battens were powdercoated inhouse at the Street Furniture Australia factory in Western Sydney. The green shades used are part of the fade-resistant DuraBright Range, from the standard colour chart, for peace of mind that bright colours will last longer.

The long-awaited Parklands project was first announced in 2016, stemming from a community vision with origins as far back as the 1970s. It includes places for community events, education, leisure and play.

The Botanic Garden includes 800 species of plants, with iconic locals such as the White Cypress Pine, Chinchilla White Gum, Wilga and Silver Leafed Ironbark, Barakula wildflowers and wattles, in black cracking clays and red sands.

“The Parklands will provide an excellent link between the highway and the town centre,” says Chinchilla Chamber of Commerce President Amanda Maurice.

“It will be a great space for Chinchilla people to share and enjoy and a reason for visitors to stop and enjoy Chinchilla as well.”

Water play park.