Community News

If you love a walk through the bush, you will love a stroll along the east side of Hovell’s Creek, a gentle walking track that showcases a unique collection of native plants, sculptures, birds and wildlife.

The track is a tribute to Kevin Hoffman, a local who extended his love of nature and gardening to encompass the banks of the river in front of his property. To honour his dedication, the trail is today named after him.

It all started back in 1970 when Kevin and Beverley Hoffman moved to Lara. They purchased a house in Wingara Drive and, not content to just look after their own garden, they extended the love to the creek beds out the front. The original developer, Ian Turner, had already planted a few trees there, although they were only 2 feet tall when they moved in.

The Hoffmans made it their mission to look after the trees and soon started caring for the native flora they discovered growing along the river banks. Despite a history of flooding over the years, the family pushed to grow and maintain the area, allowing today’s walkers to find the area swathed in significant indigenous vegetation, lush ground covers, and flowering native shrubs and trees.

You will enjoy walking along the river to view the fruits of the Hoffman and other residents’ labour. In 1982, another Wingara Drive resident who was studying landscape architecture  at the University of Canberra, won an international design award for his “Landscape Master Plan” for the area, encompassing the Kevin Hoffman Walk and the open space and wetlands opposite, known as ‘The Duck Ponds’.

The following year, the Shire of Corio committed to implement David Martin’s award-winning plan, which led to an early phase of revegetation works in 1984-1985 within the creek corridor, using locally grown ‘River Red Gums’ and other indigenous creek side plantings, now integrated into the Kevin Hoffman Walk.

This project is today supported by the  City of Greater Geelong, along with local businesses and community groups.  The Friends of Kevin Hoffman Walk was formed in 2014 as a support group and ambassador for the trail. The group aims to support Kevin in his ongoing work and to preserve this significant native garden for future generations to enjoy.

Kevin Hoffman Walk
63 Walkers Rd, Lara
friendsofkevinhoffmanwalk.com.au