A new park in Yarragon has opened, with its name honouring a local legend. The Angela Malacarne Park, located on Rollo Street at the site of the former Yarragon Primary School, opened on March 21.
The official opening was well attended by the local community. Baw Baw Shire Councillors and Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria were also in attendance.
The former school grounds has been redeveloped into a community focused space, and renamed to honour Mrs Malacarne, who taught at the school for nearly 39 years, and attended it herself as a student.
The official opening on Saturday not only celebrated the park’s new name but also saw the official unveiling of its new features, following a complete refurbishment, which transformed it into a new community asset.
Included in the upgrades was the planting of more than 60 trees, the development of a walking path, bike racks, seating and a drinking fountain. New signage and fencing was also installed.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Councillor Kate Wilson said she was incredibly proud of the transformation to the park, but prouder of its new name which celebrates someone who has put so much time into the Yarragon community.
“A couple of years ago, Council took the unusual step of seeking an exemption to the commemorative naming principle in the Naming Rules, to rename Rollo Street Park, Angela Malacarne Park,” she said.
“We were thrilled when this was granted by the registrar, and it was no surprise that through our community engagement exercise we found out that this renaming also had the full support of Baw Baw Shire locals,” Cr Wilson said.
Cr Brendan Kingwill, who attended the Yarragon Primary School when Mrs Malacarne taught there, spoke about the value that this long-term resident has added to the area.
“In 1963 Ms Malacarne returned to the primary school, where she worked for the next 38.5 years before retiring on 19 June 2002,” he said.
“During her time at Yarragon she worked under 12 different principals, saw exceptional change to the curriculum and teaching methods, and taught at least 800 local children, later teaching the children of former students. She even taught her own sons.”
“Mrs Malacarne has also been involved as a volunteer in the canteen for the Yarragon Football, Tennis and Cricket Clubs, and the Catholic Church – her service to Yarragon has been immense.”
Angela Malacarne Park is now open for the community to visit and enjoy and has been updated thanks to a joint funding venture between Baw Baw Shire Council, who contributed $434,689 and the Victorian Government, who funded more than $1.52 million.
In 2025 Council received the Excellence in Geographic Place Naming Award for the collaborative efforts of the Major Projects and Governance teams, after being successful in seeking an exemption to name the park after Mrs Malacarne.
Angela Malacarne speaks at the opening ceremony. All images
supplied by the Baw Baw Shire Council.
Angela Malacarne speaks at the opening ceremony.
Councillor Brendan Kingwill at the opening.
Mayor Kate Wilson at the opening.
The new yarragon park.
The park was officially opened on March 21.
A tree that remained from the original site.
