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Background

Following two years of renovation and restoration works, the historic Footscray Town Hall building, which includes a new community gathering space (community park), was completed in late 2024.

The community park, located along the Hyde Street frontage, includes lawns, picnic tables, benches, water bubblers and native landscaping. In the south-east corner of the park there is a rock gathering circle. There is also a vibrant curved wall artwork by artist Tommy Day III.

The community park stands on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people.

We have been working in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrong Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to ensure cultural links are considered in the design and construction process, including indigenous cultural and historical values.

Council is sharing a naming proposal for community feedback for the newly developed community park.

Learn more about the proposed name and share your feedback below.

Feedback closes midnight Sunday 29 June.

Proposed name and meaning

The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrong Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation has endorsed the use of the following Woi-wurrung language ‘balit bargoongagat banhul’.

balit bargoongagat translates to ‘strong people linked together’ (community) and banhul translates to ‘park’ in Woi-wurrung language.

Listen to the audio file below to learn how to pronounce the proposed name. Please note, the audio file only includes a pronunciation of the first two parts of the name, i.e. 'balit bargoongagat'.

'balit bargoongagat'

Community park gallery

A gently sloping path with handrails leads through a landscaped area featuring native plants and large rocks. Colourful Aboriginal artwork by artist Tommy Day the third decorates the retaining walls alongside the path, depicting traditional motifs. In the background stands an old stone church with a dark tiled roof and arched windows. Modern black street lamps line the walkway under a bright blue sky.
A modern public building with large arched windows is seen in the background, surrounded by a well-maintained green lawn and young trees supported by wooden stakes. In the foreground, there is a wooden bench on a paved pathway, with landscaped garden beds and small plants around it. The area is well-lit with contemporary black street lamps, and a few parked cars are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A modern civic building with tall arched windows and white vertical cladding stands behind a grassy lawn. In the foreground, a circular seating area made from large sandstone blocks surrounds a flat paved space, likely used for gatherings or performances. Young trees are planted throughout the lawn, and black street lights are spaced evenly across the landscape. A tall commercial building with signage is visible in the background.