Robert McLeish, a prominent resident of Bayswater, led the campaign for resuming the land to be used for public purposes.

The land was chosen as it was considered undesirable for a market garden to be on the main street of Bayswater.

The park was initially named Whatley Gardens, after John and Anne Whatley, early residents of the area, but the park was later renamed Bert Wright Reserve, after a Shire of Bayswater councillor and business owner.

[4] Since September 2019, the Bayswater Growers' Market has taken place every Saturday morning at Bert Wright Park.

The tree, which was 80 years old at the time, was deemed too significant to cut down, so it was instead relocated to Bert Wright Park, being planted where the previous playground was.