[3] In 1896, residents of Rockingham petitioned to establish a road board, which they proposed be called "Clarence" which was the name of the failed settlement of Thomas Peel at Woodman Point.

The name "Clarence" was declined by the Department of Lands and Surveys,[4]: pp83-85  and the Rockingham Road District was gazetted on 4 February 1897.

On 1 July 1961, the Road District became the Shire of Rockingham following enactment of the Local Government Act 1960.

Despite the move to the new "city centre," the community apparently considered Rockingham Beach to be the rightful civic heart of Rockingham, as evidenced by the Shire's decision to construct Flinders Hall on Flinders Lane, despite the new Council offices being constructed in the same year.

Deb Hamblin succeeded retiring Barry Sammels as mayor of the City of Rockingham, becoming the first female to hold this position.

The park, established in 1997, consists of areas of land that have been identified as having outstanding conservation, landscape and recreation values.