Founded in 1973 as the Rockbeare Park Group, later becoming the Darebin Parklands Association (DPA), the group was instrumental in establishing the Darebin Parklands,  lobbying for the site to be retained as a public space after thwarting plans for the Darebin Creek to be converted into a concrete culvert.

Sue Course, DPA co-founder known as ‘Mother of the Park’ was honoured with a 2021 Medal of the Order of Australia for work to establish the Darebin Parklands.

The park is an integral component of the Darebin Creek, Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay catchments, which connects DPA to a wide network of like-minded groups.