Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup approves sale of original playground equipment for Donnybrook Apple Fun Park

An iconic piece of South West history is up for grabs after a council decided to sell it off. The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup approved the disposal of the original playground equipment from the Donnybrook Apple Fun Park at last month’s meeting, paving the way for its sale. The fun park first opened in 2008, becoming the town’s key tourism attraction and the biggest free-entry park in the country. It was made possible through in-kind donations by the Fry family, who donated equipment and paid for contractors to undertake the work. Original equipment from the park was taken down after the council received $1.5 million from the Federal Government in 2019 to revitalise the facility. Since the new equipment was installed in 2021, the original equipment has been stored at the council’s depot. Council officers contacted Neville Fry for his opinion on the sale, with the Shire expected to accept his preference to have the items remain within the Donnybrook-Balingup area. During the meeting, Shire president Vivienne MacCarthy said she had a strong attachment to the equipment. “I feel quite emotional when we talk about it because every one of my 18 grandchildren has played on that equipment and it was half of the incentive to come and visit grandma and grandad,” she said. Deputy Shire president Lisa Glover acknowledged the Fry family’s donation which had made the park possible. “The donation and the installation of this equipment and the time of the volunteers that got behind this project is what put Donnybrook on the map,” she said. “It was an amazing community celebration and it has really drawn a lot of tourists to our town. “I understand that it is now time to move on and move the equipment away from where it is.” The vote to approve the equipment’s sale was unanimous. The equipment will be advertised for sale by a tender, which will then be brought back to the council before the items are officially sold.