A parkland shaped by history, culture, and community.

Bilya Kard Boodja is a culturally significant public parkland along the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) in Perth, located on the ancestral lands of the Beeloo family group of the Whadjuk Noongar people. Once a vital place for fishing, gathering, and living, this site has a deep cultural and ecological history.
After colonisation in 1831, the site was taken over by John Wall Hardey, who used it for agricultural practices. The state government purchased the land in 1906, renaming it Hardey Park to honour Hardey’s contributions to the Belmont area. However, the park fell into neglect over the years, primarily due to urban development pressure and invasive weed species, becoming a site of anti-social behaviour and erosion.
Following years of degradation, the City of Belmont began a revitalisation program in 2011, transforming the neglected park into a space that honours its past while supporting community connection today. The name Bilya Kard Boodja (meaning river, hill, and land) reflects its deep Noongar significance and marks the first Aboriginal-named public space in the area.
Ecoscape worked closely with the City to restore native planting (to improve the area’s ecological health), enhance accessibility, and integrate nature play and artworks by local artists that celebrate Noongar culture and stories.
Recognised by AILA WA and AILA National, Bilya Kard Boodja Lookout offers stunning views of the river and now stands as a space for reflection, recreation, and respect – a parkland shaped by history, culture, and community.