McGilp Recreation Park

From the 1870s, residents of One Tree Hill gathered at Sampson’s Flat for recreation. When the land was sold, the community faced the challenge of finding a new venue until Lachlan McGilp, a relative newcomer, generously donated 5¼ acres for a public reserve—later named McGilp Recreation Park in his honour.

Ideally located near the main road beside the Institute, the park was developed through community working bees, with fencing, a gate, a concrete cricket pitch, and two asphalt tennis courts established for public use. Its official opening, led by Mrs H.W. Kelly, was marked by a spirited cricket match between the “Old U’s” and “Young Uns,” accompanied by music, shared meals, and stories of past victories—offering a vivid snapshot of community life at the time.