This cache is located near a very busy park, but if you are careful you should be out of the line of sight of most muggles in the area. This is an easy-find micro cache that is good for beginners and kids – but not if they are too short.
The park is named after the McRae Family who owned a large portion of land between what is now Laycock Avenue and Grove Street, before it was sub-divided on the coming of the railway line in 1890. The McRae Family mansion ‘Kintail’ still stands on Laycock Ave - it is worth peeking at the privately owned residence from the wrought iron gates if you pass that way.
A later sub-division marketed the area as ‘McRaes Estate’ and featured model display homes in the Californian Bungalow style. Due to the quality and popularity of this style of home many of the original buildings from this era survived and the area was named a Heritage Conservation Zone in 1992 - meaning none of the buildings considered ‘contributory’ the ambience of the area can be demolished or extended without extensive council approval.
The area also features examples of homes in the Queen Anne style and Streamline Moderne style, along with later mid-century modern family homes. You can see many examples along McRaes Ave, Lansdowne Street, Kuroki Street and Pacific Ave.
McRaes Reserve used to have a stream running through it - the path of the stream is now replaced with an underground rainwater system. The Reserve features a children’s play area as well as a basketball court and a large open area.
Congrats to Seemyshell for FTF!