Bonette Reserve

Following on from The Structure Plan that had been developed by Cardinia Shire Council Urban Initiatives undertook the design and documentation of Bonette Reserve.

Bonette Reserve is a small public reserve that is situated on the edge of the Princes Highway in Beaconsfield. The Reserve is predominantly dedicated to the remembrance of past servicepeople. Being a site closely edged by a major highway it was important for the design to mitigate the negative impacts of the high traffic volumes through the creation of a space that felt nurturing and enclosed. This approach also worked well with the creation of a reflective space for Reserve users, in line with its predominant usage as a remembrance site. Some methods used to create this environment include the considered placement of garden beds for visual screening and a circular commemorative space with an inward focus that ‘turned away’ from the roadway. The circular space also worked beautifully with the significant existing trees on the site, reflecting their canopy shapes and respecting their root zones.

The original commemorative obelisk is crafted from Harcourt granite. It was determined important to continue the use of high-quality local materials, this would complement the existing feature and be culturally appropriate. The features that evolved from this approach include detailed paving that is constructed from Harcourt granite and Victorian bluestone, bespoke furniture pieces from local manufacturers, and a largely native plant palette developed in association with Cardinia Council.

Interestingly, the Beaconsfield Kindergarten is also located very close to this site. Bonette Reserve is sometimes used by carers and children as a place of respite. The design used the spatial configuration, furniture and garden bed placement to effectively serve this purpose. This includes seating that is flexible in its use, and appropriate for small groups, garden beds that provide a physical safety barrier from the Highway, and clear pedestrian connections to the Kindergarten.