It originally had a station on the Northcliffe branch railway, opened in 1898, the same year the town was gazetted.

Balingup was known in the twentieth century for fruit and vegetable growing,[8] and more recently for beef cattle and organic produce.

Balingup hosts annual rural festivals, primarily the Small Farm Field Day[9] (late April) and Medieval Carnivale[10] (August).

Nearby are found mushroom varieties of interest to both drug users and law enforcement agencies.

[11][12] A large mushroom statue pays homage to the regions association with fungi and can be found on the Balingup Nannup road near the old cheese factory.