E J Andrew Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

E J Andrew Reserve is a small, grassy local reserve on Williams Road in Briar Hill, rehabilitated after serving as a site compound for the Hurstbridge Rail Line duplication works. Banyule City Council designates it a dog off-leash area, but the freedom is qualified: it is an open, unfenced neighbourhood reserve rather than a fenced dog park, so this is a local run for dogs with reliable recall, not a destination outing.

The dog setup

Dogs can be off lead on the open grass, but Banyule Council rules require leashing within about 5 metres of the playground and BBQ area, on the shared concrete pathways through the reserve, and during any council-permitted community event on site. Your dog needs to respond to voice commands, stay in your line of sight and stay clear of the playground exclusion zone at the eastern end. Bins are usually provided but carry your own bags as backup, and always pick up.

Max: the off-leash zone is small and sits close to a busy playground, so keep an eye on the buffer distance and call your dog back before it drifts toward the swings.

Worth knowing

The playground at the eastern end was upgraded in 2023 with accessible wooden play structures and a bird's nest swing, which is great for families and means the reserve gets busy with kids after school and on weekends. There is a drinking water tap, an unshaded table and chairs, and the Hurstbridge rail line borders the western end, so if your dog is unsettled by trains, position yourselves accordingly. No fencing anywhere, so the whole exercise depends on recall.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is on Williams Road, Briar Hill, with only limited street parking nearby. It sits within walking distance of the Hurstbridge line, and Eltham and Greensborough stations are both a short trip away if you are coming by train. Mid-week mornings are quietest; weekends and the after-school run are when the compact space feels tightest.

Close by with the dogs

If the open reserve is too loose for your dog, Malcolm Blair Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Greensborough is the nearest fully fenced option, and Eltham Lower Park Dog Fenced Oval and Off Leash Area is a bigger destination run. For coffee, Tea Pot Cafe beside the Eltham Library has outdoor seating where dogs are welcome.

More options are on the Victoria parks guide and the Briar Hill destination page.