Piccabeen Park

(formerly known as The Weir, Bangalow Parklands, or The Pool)

Piccabeen Park is a popular 2.67ha park located an easy walk from Bangalow’s main street and the town centre. It is accessed via a roadway leading from Deacon Street, Bangalow, next to Heritage House.
This park is a unique non-commercial greenspace, a haven of well-cared-for native trees and plants, in the heart of town. It’s a retreat from the bustle and commerce of the town – a rare and valuable place where anyone can come, sit peacefully by Byron Creek, and soak up “nature”, free of charge.

In 2024, the park was officially named Piccabeen Park, ‘Piccabeen’ being the indigenous name for the Bangalow Palm tree.

The park has been a gathering place for the community since it was created by members of the community, working with Byron Council, in the 1920s. At that time, locals built themselves a weir within Byron Creek, which became a swimming hole, loved and well-used for many decades. Countless local school children were taught to swim in the creek pool, the location for many happy dances, diving and swimming competitions, school and community gatherings, over nearly 100 years. The facilities have always been managed and maintained by community groups and members, with Council support.
After the NSW government decreed that all weirs in the State should be abolished, the weir wall was demolished and replaced by a fish ladder, and so the creek swimming pool dissolved into Byron Creek. Platypus and a variety of fish are regularly spotted in the shallows.

Today, the park is still maintained and enhanced by local community volunteers.
A safe and beautiful reserve, it is used all day long and year-round, by old and young, including:
– young families, especially parents with prams and pushers;
– elderly visitors, particularly the many who visit in organised bus trips;
– those with a disability on carer-supervised outings;
– students from the local primary school, after school;
 – bird watchers, nature lovers and local Landcarers;
– tradespeople, and main street workers, having lunch;
– Council workers on a break;
– dog walkers;
– families, couples and groups of friends, as well as individuals;
– exercise takers and
– special interest groups, such as tai chi, singing, art and yoga groups.
The tranquil setting has also become extremely popular as a location for celebrating kids’ birthday parties, for school fundraisers, family celebrations such as weddings and wakes, for musical events and performances – and many other special events.
With house lots decreasing in size in recent years, local residents are happy that Piccabeen Park is available to everyone, as it creates a vast natural area for kids to enjoy, away from the backyard. After the NSW government decreed that all weirs in the State should be abolished, the weir wall was demolished and replaced by a fish ladder, and so the creek swimming pool dissolved into Byron Creek. Platypus and a variety of fish are regularly spotted in the shallows.

Team Piccabeen is a small volunteer group dedicated to – and passionate about – making this public green space an attractive and welcoming setting for locals and visitors of all ages and abilities.
To us, Piccabeen Park is the true heart of the Bangalow community, and we are committed to its maintenance and ongoing enhancement.
To date, our group has achieved such things as the successful rehabilitation of the former weir and the creation of a fish ladder in Byron Creek; the construction of a well-frequented rotunda, a car park replacing a former dip-site, two new childrens’ playgrounds, additional park furniture, rock circles, shelter sheds and benches, new gardens and plantings, maintenance of the Wetlands, and more.
We’ve raised money to do all this by applying for grants or holding events, and working closely with Byron Shire Council and other community groups, such as Bangalow Land and Rivercare.
A recent feature has been our establishment of a number of ‘pods’ of particular plants native to the area, demonstrating what locals can plant in their own gardens. Most popular is our Bush Tucker garden, now a feature of park tours by local indigenous identity, Delta Kay.

Team Piccabeen happily works closely and cooperatively with Byron Shire Council, Bangalow Land and Rivercare, and Bangalow Historical Society on many of these projects. The Team maintains the gardens around Heritage House. We’re always on the lookout for extra bodies to help us out. Contact the Historical Society for more information.