Ballam Park Heritage Trail (Frankston)

The Ballam Park Heritage Trail is a self-guided historical walk through Ballam Park, exploring the Aboriginal cultural heritage, European settlement and development of Frankston from a rural township into a thriving seaside destination and suburban centre.

The walk takes approximately 20 minutes and features five themed interpretive panels plus an introductory information panel. The signs contain historical stories and images, with landscaping around each panel.

The trail was developed by Frankston City Council in consultation with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and Frankston Historical Society.

Heritage Trail:

The trail explores five historical themes:

Ballamballam - Biik (Land), Warranh (Sea), and Laak (Sky) Country: The cultural knowledge and continuing connection to Country of the Mayunh Bulak clan of the Bunurong peoples
A Community Develops - Land, fish, timber, and boats: European settlement from the 1840s and the development of local industries and communities
Becoming a Destination - Trains, tourism, and territory: The arrival of the railway in 1882 and Frankston's emergence as a seaside holiday destination
A Community on the Bay - From rural township to suburban centre: Frankston's changing community and growth from a township into a suburban centre
Recent Days - Fabulous Frankston, part of marvelous Melbourne: Post-war suburban expansion, the development of modern Frankston and sporting achievements

Stories include Mark Young's innovative sea baths, the 1934 Scout Jamboree attended by 10,000 scouts from 18 nations, and Olympic gold medalist Debbie Flintoff-King.

How to Get There:

Start at the park entrance off Karingal Drive. From here, follow the park footpaths north-east or north-west to find the six interpretive panels.

Allow approximately 20 minutes to complete the walk.

The trail can be combined with a visit to the Ballam Park playgrounds, picnic areas, lake and historic Ballam Park Homestead.