Kenneth Slessor Park
Kenneth Slessor Park in Chatswood is a steeply terraced parkland whose standout feature is its lookout over the Blue Mountains, with amphitheatre seating and lounges added in its 2016 redesign. It also has a hill slide play area and public art based on the poem "Five Bells."
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About Kenneth Slessor Park
Lookout and Amphitheatre Seating at Kenneth Slessor Park
Kenneth Slessor Park has a lookout that takes in western views to the Blue Mountains, the same outlook that gave the land its original name of Western Park. Before the April 2016 redesign, the steeply overgrown site made it hard to find a usable path or comfortable seats for that view. Amphitheatre seating and lounges now let visitors sit and look out from the park. The lookout has become a popular lunch spot for nearby office workers, so the park is busiest at midday.
Playground and Slides at Kenneth Slessor Park
Kenneth Slessor Park has play equipment across two levels. The lower terrace features an embankment slide and a climbing structure. At the bottom of the park, a small play area includes a hill slide set among new plantings. The play areas sit within the park's grassed terraces, so children can move between the slides, climbing structure and open lawn in one visit.
Five Bells Public Art at Kenneth Slessor Park
Kenneth Slessor Park is named after the poet and journalist Kenneth Slessor, who lived in several houses along Pacific Highway in Chatswood. The text of his poem "Five Bells" is reproduced on a banister in the park. Five bells border the central steps of the site and evoke the poem's account of a sailor's life. Roger Apte prefabricated the artwork, which was installed as part of the redesign.
Facilities at Kenneth Slessor Park
Getting to Kenneth Slessor Park
Kenneth Slessor Park is on the corner of Pacific Highway and Western Way, Chatswood NSW 2067. Chatswood station is about 300 m away, and the park is the meeting point for the 7 km return Railway to River walk that starts at Chatswood Railway Station.
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- 📍Coffeehood (cafe, about 100 m)
Frequently asked questions about Kenneth Slessor Park
Is Kenneth Slessor Park in Chatswood good for a family outing with young kids?
Kenneth Slessor Park has a small play area at the bottom with a hill slide, plus an embankment slide and climbing structure on the lower terrace. Its grassed terraces give children space to run between the play areas.
Does Kenneth Slessor Park have a playground, and what age groups is it designed for?
Yes, the park has a small play area with a hill slide at its bottom, and an embankment slide and climbing structure on the lower terrace. The equipment is set among new plantings and grassed terraces.
Can I have a picnic at Kenneth Slessor Park on the weekend?
The park has a picnic table alongside a park bench, and its lookout is a popular lunch spot for nearby office workers. Large Hoop Pines and Date Palms grow across the grounds.
Are there walking paths or a loop track around Kenneth Slessor Park?
Kenneth Slessor Park is the meeting point for the 7 km return Railway to River walk from Chatswood station to the Lane Cove River. It also lies on the shorter 3 km Ferndale Loop.
What makes Kenneth Slessor Park special compared to other parks in Chatswood?
The park has a lookout with western views to the Blue Mountains and amphitheatre seating added in its 2016 redesign. It also displays the text of Kenneth Slessor's poem "Five Bells" on a banister, with five bells bordering its central steps.