Heritage Overlay Protects Victoria's First Skate Park

0:00It's April 5th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Sydney News Today, your AI-powered local news. The City of Greater Jalong just voted to protect the Coryo-Scape holes with a heritage overlay. This spot in Fountain of Friendship Park holds the title as Victoria's first purpose, built public skate park, opening back in 1980. It's joining historic churches and homes on the protection list to shield it from future development. Back in the 70s, local kids like 13-year-old Alistair Miller formed a skateboard club and gathered 300 signatures on a petition. They pushed the shower of Coryo to build it, splitting the $30,000 cost with the service club. What started as a dream inspired by U.S. magazines became a reality for Jalong's working-class northern suburbs. The bulls drew crowds right away, pulling skaters from Melbourne, Interstate, and even pros like Tony Hawk in 1987. For locals, including the current mayor who grew up nearby, it was the ultimate hangout spot, a safe playground where kids roamed free till dinner.

1:02These days, the 46-year-old concrete shows its age with rough surfaces that test even experts, but skaters love the authentic challenge. Skateboarding Victoria backs the heritage move, calling it a key piece of the sport's Australian roots. Now the community and state government get to weigh in through public submissions, with any issues heading to a planning panel before final approval. Preserving this slice of skate history keeps the stoke alive for generations.