PARONELLA PARK

Hello everyone! 

As promised in last weeks blog post, i have a whole feature on the wonder that is Paronella Park! 

This park looks as though it was created as a set for a movie, but it is fact the way the park has developed, due to a serious of unfortunate events. But before i get on to that i will tell you how this place came to be in the first place. 

It all started with a Spanish Immigrant called Jose Paronella, whom arrived in Australia in 1913. For 11 years after he worked hard to earn enough money to marry the love of his life, and so that they could both spend the rest of their lives in Australia. In 1925 the couple married, and returned to Australia. In 1929 Jose purchased the plot of land, that would become Paronella Park, for £120! In 1935 the park was finally open to the public. He built this place from scratch, including planting 7000 plants. The centre piece being the castle that housed the refreshment rooms, and most importantly the ballroom.

Now to the unfortunate events that have helped shape the park into what it is now. Paronella Park is situated next to Mina Falls, a small but powerful waterfall. In 1946 the steam, which runs through the park, became blocked, eventually the water pushed the blockage free, causing the whole lot to fall onto the park, flooding it. More floods came in 1967, '72 and '74, meaning repair work was continuous. In 1979 a fire swept through the castle, causing the park to officially close for the first time. A cyclone battered the building in 1986, and another flooding in '94. In more recent times two more cyclones have hit the park, in 2006 and 2011, causing more setbacks and challenges for the team. 

New owners took over the park in 1993 and their aim was to keep Jose Paronellas dream alive, their aim being to preserve and maintain, rather then rebuilding it into something that Jose wouldn't have wanted. 

It's a truly special place, and the story behind it more so. This place could have easily been abandoned and left behind, but it continues life as a pleasure garden, just maybe in a slightly different form to what it used to be. 

The staircase to the Mina Falls, and the waterfall itself. 

A water feature that sits in front of the castle, and look at all the flora and fauna that fills the spaces.

Whilst here i enjoyed imaging all the couples dancing in the ball room, all the families having picnics in the gardens, and see that magic that used to be.

I just love this place, and it's history. I love how it seems abandoned, it seems as though it is overgrown, moss is growing wherever it can, but i believe this is what makes this place stand out and makes it even more charming. 

If you want more information about Jose's dream, or pictures of how it once looked then head on over to the official website by clicking here

Thanks for reading, xo

*As with all pictures featured on my blog, they are all taken by me unless otherwise noted. I use a Canon S120.