CERES Community Environment Park, Brunswick East
CERES is the green heart of Melbourne's inner north — an award-winning, not-for-profit sustainability centre spread across 4.5 hectares on the banks of Merri Creek, where a working organic farm, free-range chickens, a buzzing market garden and a genuinely great cafe all share the same sun-dappled patch of earth. Entry is free, the vibe is unhurried, and it's only 4 km from the CBD.
More Than a Park
CERES Community Environment Park is a not-for-profit sustainability centre located on 4.5 hectares on the Merri Creek in East Brunswick. It runs extensive environmental education programs, urban agriculture projects, and social enterprises including a grocery, bakery, cafe, nursery, community kitchen and organic online supermarket.
What was once an industrial wasteland and rubbish tip has evolved into one of the most sustainable locations in Melbourne. The park is home to 200 free-ranging chickens, 10,000 bees, a community garden, a meditation garden and the Terra Wonder Playspace — a giant sculptural playground built around the world of soil.
The CERES Market & Merri Cafe
The CERES Market happens every second Saturday, where you can find vintage, second-hand and homemade goods from local makers — think hand-thrown ceramics, seedlings, preserves and beeswax candles. The weekday experience is quieter and arguably more magical: just birdsong, resident chooks and the smell of baking sourdough.
The Merri Cafe sits inside the park and serves seasonal organic fare; the CERES Organic Grocery & Bakery provides freshly baked sourdough every day. Grab a coffee, find a bench by the creek and let the city feel very far away.
Getting There the Good Way
The Merri Creek bike path runs along the edge of CERES, making it perfectly accessible for walkers and cyclists — enter via the gate closest to the Blyth St/Arthurton Road bridge in Brunswick East. The path also connects to the Capital City Trail for a longer ride.
By public transport, take the Number 96 tram from Bourke Street in the city up Nicholson Street to the Blyth Street terminus — CERES is a short, signposted walk from there. Free parking is available on-site for those who drive.
CERES Community Environment Park, Brunswick East on video
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