King House Pleasure Grounds

The “Pleasure Grounds”, on the banks of the Boyle River, were originally laid out by the King Family for their own private recreation in the late 18th Century. Many of the original features including an island, cut limestone bridge, canal, limestone plinth for sculpture and woodland still remain. This park is now used as a public park in the heart of Boyle and had fallen into disrepair.

Murray & Associates’ plan for the park is now realised and enhances the original features with contemporary forms and materials. The design focuses on contact with the water. A river walk, railed seating / viewing area and picnic space are provided. A series of terraces are at the heart of the park and focus on the canal.

The design included details for site furniture utilising local materials – limestone and timber, as well as many other elements to create a human-scale environment.