Balyang Park is nestled on the banks of the Baruon River in the Geelong suburb of Newtown. The park, established in 1973, is home to many stunningly beautiful lakes and ecologically valuable wetlands. The total area of "Balyang" is 81 thousand square metres.
The area was once owned by Captain Foster Fiance, who bought it in 1845. He built an estate here and named it "Bellbird Balyang" in memory of a the young Aboriginal youth who accompanied the captain in the early years of the founding of Geelong. The land was used mainly for grazing, as it was low-lying and prone to flooding. In 1959, Newtown City Council reserved the area for a public park. But it wasn't until ten years later the then owner of Baliang agreed to sell his holdings.
In September 1970, a plan was adopted to create the park. Part of the work was carried out using the labour of the unemployed as part of a programme to provide rural employment programme. In August 1973, Balyang Park, costing the city $81,500, was officially opened by the Mayor of Newtown and representatives of the Victorian state government.
A large lake, up to 80 cm deep, was laid out within the park. In the centre of the lake in the centre of the lake, two of which are accessible by a footbridge. Water for the lake was supplied from a storm water collector and also pumped from the Baruon River. At the entrance, there was parking for 150 cars, toilets and information boards with picnic areas. Several walking and cycling paths link Baliang with other parks along the banks of the Baruon River.
Today, several species of birds can be seen in the park - swans, pelicans, Eurasian coot, dark partridge, Pacific black duck, mallard, mallard, mottled cormorant and gulls. In 2007, a number of restoration works were carried out in the park, including the removal of the lake's stone barriers to make it look more like a natural body of water.
