Cement Creek Redwood Forest

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Tourism

Client
Parks Victoria

Collaborators
Nature Advisory (Ecology)
Woolacotts (Engineers)
GML Heritage (Heritage)
Arboriculture Pty Ltd (Arborist)
Warrandale Industries (Construction)

Disciplines
Landscape Architecture
Planning

Location
East Warburton, VIC

Date
2026

Imagery
Photography by Tract

The heritage-listed Cement Creek Redwood Forest, Warburton is one of Victoria’s most iconic natural destinations, renowned for its towering Californian Redwoods – which can grow up to 115 metres – and serene walking trails.
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Planted in the 1930s, the forest is home to rare and exotic species, including California Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and Bishop’s Pine (Pinus muricata), attracting thousands of visitors each year.

To meet growing visitor demand and protect the site’s unique character, Parks Victoria engaged Tract as lead consultant (planning and landscape architecture) to design and deliver a suite of upgrades that enhance both amenity and accessibility whilst minimising loss of both planted and native vegetation

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Tract’s planning team facilitated approvals, navigating complex zoning and overlay controls relating to heritage and vegetation.

Working collaboratively with planning and environmental officers from Yarra Ranges Council to secure planning approvals, the design approach applies a ‘light touch’, working within the existing car park footprint and minimising disturbance only to facilitate necessary upgrades.

Tract’s landscape design offered a sensitive design solution that respects the site’s scenic qualities, topography, and ecological values while accommodating a high volume of visitors.

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Behind the scenes, Tract employed innovative mapping techniques using handheld GPS, open-source data, and traditional surveys to document trails and site complexities. This approach streamlined design and delivery, reducing cost and time risks while ensuring a thorough understanding of the forest’s spatial, cultural, and environmental layers.

Constructed by Warrandale Industries, the design integrates specialist input from Woolacotts Engineering, Nature Advisory Consultants (Ecology & Fire), GML Heritage Consultants, and Arboriculture P/L. The result is a cohesive outcome that balances visitor experience with environmental and heritage protection, ensuring the Warburton Redwood Forest remains a safe, inclusive, and educational destination.

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“As the client side project manager, I have had the pleasure of witnessing Tract’s exceptional professionalism, proactivity, and creativity throughout the planning and design development of our project. Their team demonstrated remarkable thoughtfulness in understanding our vision and translating it into designs that perfectly complemented the intrinsic value of the site. Tract’s ability to strike a harmonious balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal is truly commendable.” — Parks Victoria Project Manager