Are there any public place east of Melbourne, suitable for star party?

[bojan]

I was wandering if there were any suitable place, like cricket pitch of golf course or just a clear spot for organising a small star party, at the eastern side of Melbourne?
I am considering place near the Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd (to the north of Montuna Golf club) or Guys Hill.
Also are there any suitable places around Lilydale?
Are they dark enough?
Thanks in advance :)

[janoskiss]

Hello Bojan, fellow Mt Waverlian! I was checking out the Taggerty Pioneer Settlement (http://www.taggertypioneersettlement.com.a u/) just a few kms past Buxton the other weekend, and was thinking the place would be perfect for a star party. There is plenty of budget accommodation on site and a big open field at the back of the property that is just begging to be populated with telescopes and observers.

It's probably farther than you had in mind: another 60km after Lilydale, but a pretty cruisy 60km, unlike the drive through burbs before you get to Lilydale. Skies are very nice and dark on good nights.

[bojan]

Hi Steve,
Thank you for this info, I will certainly consider it :-) If not for this ocasion then certainly for the near future, or just for myself and perhaps for another mate or two.
However, as you said, it is perhaps a bit too far away for the star party I am trying to organise right now.. it is for my work mates and anyone else from my office (we call this "social event"... and I just thought that it may have a different flavour added to the main dish :-), it was succesful in the past when we had it in Walley Reserve in Mt Waverley, and in Jells Park South... And now we would like a darker site, but still not too far away... Of course, there are 2 or 3 of us who will stay there till dawn :-)
Bojan

[janoskiss]

Anywhere along the Peninsula is quite good and < 1hour away. Helps if someone you know offers use of their holiday house for the occasion as it happened at my work. :)