The Inner Circle Railway Linear Parklands Dog Off Leash Area

100 Rushall Crescent, Fitzroy North VIC, 3068


The Linear Park is part of the Capital City Trail and extends for 2.5 km from Rushall Station (100 Rushall Crescent, Fitzroy North) to 70 Bowen Crescent, Princes Hill and follows the alignment of the former Inner Circle Railway. The parklands are around 13 hectare in size, and includes Batson Reserve, Thomas Kidney Reserve, Park Street Park, Holden Byrne Reserve, Janet Millman Reserve in North Fitzroy, Linear Park, North Carlton and Hardy Gallagher Reserve, Princess Hill.

Features and facilities include playgrounds, BBQs, picnic facilities, water taps, and walking and bike paths.

The park is a dog off leash area with the following restrictions: Dogs must be kept on-leash on designated shared pathways and 5 metres either side, even if pathways run through off-leash areas.

There is a long strip of grassy area dotted with trees which stretches to the west from the Rushall train station. The Capital City Trail, which is a shared use path, runs through it. Initially the off leash area passes through Thomas Kidney Reserve which is about 50m wide and has a few dirt paths leading through a small area of bushland trees.

After crossing Bennett Street, you reach another grassy section with two fenced playground areas and an unfenced basketball court. You then cross busy St Georges Road using the traffic light crossing to another grassy area dotted with trees.

On the northern side is the Holden Byrne reserve, a dog on leash area, which has a playground with huge shade sails, shelter with table, BBQ, unshaded table and water tap with bowl.

The off leash area continues into the Janet Millman Reserve. This is the best area for dogs since it is the biggest and widest area without close roads and away from cyclists. In this area there is a part of an old tram line which is still in the ground. As the parkland continues to the west, there is a thinner grassy strip which eventually reaches Hardy Gallagher Reserve.