Heritage Park has been designed to reflect the proud and long history of Baldivis,
drawing on the best traditions of the past to create a prosperous future.
Up until the 1950s, Baldivis Road was only a narrow limestone track, with trees
growing right to the edge and barely room for two cars to pass. Much has changed
since then, but the quintessential character of the area is being preserved at Heritage
Park.
The McDonald family, one of the first families to settle in Baldivis, originally
owned the land on which Heritage Park has been developed.
Neil McDonald arrived in the area in 1923, and was later joined by his wife Margaret
and their two daughters and four sons. A fifth son was born in Baldivis.
The McDonalds made the journey to Baldivis with other families such as the Harveys,
Chapmans, Westcotts, Langs, Yates, Verriers, Fowlers and Websters.
While many families fell on hard times, having little or no farming experience to
help them forge a life on the land, the McDonalds managed to make a living from
dairy farming.
Starting out with 12 cows, the family eventually increased their herd to around
75 cattle.Even then, dairy farming was not always enough to make ends meet, so Neil
McDonald worked digging drains to supplement the family income.
In 1951, Neil's son Malcolm bought the family property from his father, married
Norma, who had two boys on her own, and worked at the dairy farm until 1964.
Malcolm also grew crops for hay and stock feed, ran cattle and owned a transport
business. Horse racing was one of his passions - he bred horses on his property
and today he still has seven cattle and about a dozen horses.
Reflecting the equestrian and rural history of the area, Heritage Park will include
a 1.5km bridle trail within the 70m wide natural reserve that provides a buffer
between the development and Baldivis Road.And in a further nod to the rich history
of the area, streets within Heritage Park will be named after horse breeds.
