S.J. Clement Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

S.J. Clement Reserve is an unrestricted off-leash park at 14 Gilligan Road, Altona North, a mostly grassy open oval bordered by Ross Road, Mills Street and Gilligan Road. Hobsons Bay City Council lists it as a dog off-leash location with no time restrictions, so the gates never matter, but neither does a fence, because there is not one.

The dog setup

The ground is open to the surrounding streets on all sides, so dogs must stay under voice control the whole time, and this only really works for dogs with solid recall. Carry a leash at all times, keep your dog from distressing other users or wildlife, and pick up after them; Hobsons Bay council enforcement on waste is strict. A water tap sits on the reserve, but bring your own bowl. There are no public toilets, no lighting and no playground on the oval itself, so this is a straightforward run-around rather than a full-facility park.

Max: With no fencing on any side, street edges are the risk. This one is best for dogs who come back the first time they are called.

Getting there

Street parking is available on the surrounding roads, and the reserve sits in Altona North within easy reach of the West Gate Freeway for anyone cutting through the inner west. Dog-friendly cafes are a short drive away along Blackshaws Road and in nearby Yarraville village; the Elephant Cafe at Newport keeps footpath seating with water bowls ready for visiting dogs.

Make a day of it

The Hosken Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the other off-leash ground in Altona North, the Brooklyn Reserve Fenced Dog Park adds a fully enclosed option nearby, and the P A Burns Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Altona covers a secure run closer to the coast.

Weekday afternoons from 5 to 7pm and weekend mornings from 9 to 11am are busiest. Visit early morning or mid-week for a quieter run, and note the grass can turn boggy after heavy rain. See more Victoria dog parks and off-leash areas or check what else is dog friendly in Altona North.