The man responsible for establishing Yarraville’s Cruickshank Park, has been honoured with a memorial in its grounds.
Peter Anderson first approached council with a proposal to turn wasteland behind his home into a park in 1968 and led the development, preservation, and enhancement of Cruickshank Park right up until his death in August 2023.
Late last year, a memorial rotunda honouring Mr Anderson was unveiled in Cruickshank Park to recognise his substantial contribution to the development of the much loved community space, which is named for former mayor, George Cruickshank, and opened to the public in 1981.
Speaking at the unveiling of the memorial on December 23, Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari reflected on the importance of recognising Mr Anderson’s legacy.
“The establishment of this memorial reflects the impact of Peter’s lasting contributions to the City of Maribyrnong and will inspire future generations to appreciate and uphold the values he exemplified in nurturing and advocating the importance of community spaces,” Cr Tiwari said.
After council endorsed his proposal to the turn the area into a park, Mr Anderson and his wife Lola, with the support of an advisory committee redeveloped the area from a dusty quarry site into the suburban oasis that it is today, complete with green lawns, a play space and shade trees bordering Stony Creek.
Along with providing a place for locals to wander, walk their dogs and enjoy nature, there is also a frog pond, rain garden, and nesting boxes supporting a thriving ecosystem attracting a range of native wildlife.
Peter and Lola Anderson were together awarded the 2021 Maribyrnong Citizen of the Year Award, for their lifelong commitment to Cruickshank Park, specifically recognising the park as a crucial sanctuary for residents during the challenges associated with the 2020 lockdown.
Council endorsed a proposal at its September 2024 meeting from the Friends of Cruickshank Park to establish the memorial for Peter Anderson as a tangible reminder of his incredible investment in his community.
