Barbara Beyer Reserve Off Leash Area

Barbara Beyer Reserve Off Leash Area is a fully fenced, 24 hour off-leash space in the north-east corner of the Yarraville Gardens precinct, at the corner of Whitehall and Harris Streets. Popular with inner-west locals for early starts and late finishes, the gates never close, and the reserve gives inner-city dogs a proper run without leaving the suburb.

The dog setup

The rectangular reserve is securely fenced off from Whitehall Street, with a shaded seat, a water tap with a drinking bowl for dogs, council bins and a mix of open sunny ground and shaded patches under the surrounding trees. Dogs can be off-leash at all times inside the fence, but carry a leash and keep voice control even in here, as other users and their dogs share the space. Dogs must stay on-leash everywhere else in Yarraville Gardens, stay at least 30 metres from the playground, and pick up with the bins on site. Maribyrnong City Council penalties apply for breaches.

Max: The 30 metre playground buffer is council law, not a suggestion. Steer wide of it on the way in and out.

Getting there

The reserve is at 151 Whitehall Street, Yarraville, a few minutes from the West Gate Freeway and the CBD. Street parking runs along Whitehall Street and nearby roads, Yarraville and Seddon stations on the Williamstown line are both roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk, and local buses run along Somerville Road and Whitehall Street.

Make a day of it

Bass Note Cafe sits directly across the road from the gardens and welcomes dogs with water bowls, treats and shaded outdoor seating, making an easy park-then-coffee loop. The Francis St Fully Fenced Dog Park and McIvor Reserve Fenced Dog Park are the other enclosed runs in Yarraville, and the Maribyrnong River Trail at Footscray extends the day into a riverside walk.

Early morning from 7 to 9am and late afternoon from 4.30 to 6.30pm are the busiest windows as locals fit runs around work. The reserve is not well lit, so aim for daylight, especially once the shorter winter afternoons set in. Browse more Victoria dog parks or check what else is dog friendly in Yarraville.