Parks & Recreation
Playgrounds, BBQ shelters, skate bowls, picnic spots and quiet reserves. Walloon is a small town with a surprisingly good outdoor life.
Walloon punches well above its weight for parks and family-friendly outdoor spaces. The centrepiece is Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park, but there are several smaller reserves scattered through the locality — quiet places for a picnic, a walk, or a kick of the footy.
Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park
533/569 Karrabin-Rosewood Road, Walloon · opposite the state school · on the Cobb & Co Tourist Drive
Fifteen minutes from Ipswich, Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park is one of the best family parks in the Ipswich region — and the spiritual heart of Walloon. The Babies of Walloon memorial stands at its centre: a bronze sculpture of the Broderick sisters, surrounded by railway sleepers inscribed with Henry Lawson's poem.
Beyond the memorial, there's a modern playground (sway fun glider, spring platform, oodle swing, omni spinner, climbing dome, fort, slide, swings), a skate bowl, BMX track, basketball court, several kilometres of walking and cycling paths, sheltered picnic areas, BBQs and public toilets. ALARA Place is a fully accessible playground for children with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities.
Each year the park hosts the Poet's Feast, built around the bronze Henry Lawson lectern and poet's platform — a beautiful annual celebration of Australian verse in the very place that inspired one of its most tender poems.
More green space
Quieter local reserves scattered through the Walloon locality — great for a walk, a kick of the footy, or a peaceful picnic.
Five Mile Creek Park
A quieter creekside reserve — perfect for a slow walk, a quiet read on the grass, or watching the water. A lovely contrast to the bustle of Henry Lawson Park.
Poplar Street Reserve
A small neighbourhood park in the residential heart of Walloon. Handy if you're local and just want a quick change of scenery, a short walk or a patch of grass for the kids.
Suncrest Park
A pocket park in a newer residential area of Walloon — quiet, easy walking routes, well-kept lawns. Part of the network of local green spaces the Ipswich City Council maintains.
Tallwood Park
A bushier reserve with mature gums — a favourite for locals wanting to escape the sun on a hot afternoon. Great for a stroller walk or a quiet coffee on a bench.
Hosting a party or event?
Some areas of Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park require a permit or licence for bookings (birthday parties, weddings, markets, community events). Ipswich City Council manages bookings — check availability, area conditions and apply online.