Known originally as a train station at Powlett River near Wonthaggi, it is now the location of the Victorian Desalination Plant, and at the 2011 census, it had a population of 606.

It's Bass Coast’s fastest-growing suburb, with the 2011 census showing Dalyston’s population more than doubled from 278 residents in 2006 to 606 in 2011.

[2][failed verification] The gates open daily for public access to the 225-hectare park and 8 kilometres of walking, horse riding and cycling tracks.

[4] Walking, cycling and horse trotting is the modern use of the old Wonthaggi railway line all year round.

It is very flat and begins at Murray Street in Wonthaggi, goes through Dalyston and ends at the roundabout to Phillip Island.

It goes through Dalyston at the end of Daly Street, where it crosses over the Powlett River and continues to the right for 2.7 kilometres to go over Bourne Creek trestle bridge at Kilcunda, which has panoramic views of the beach.

Victoria’s only coastal rail trail, it stretches 16 kilometres from Wonthaggi to Anderson, meandering through farmland, coastal bushland, historic coal mining nature reserves and coastline with a clear view of the Wonthaggi wind turbines and remnants of coal mine buildings.

[6] Powlett River riparian and wetland is an estuary of national importance due to its ecological values.

Powlett River[7] is named after Frederick Powlett, [8] the Commissioner of the Western Port District in 1840 [9] One of the states original General Stores, built in 1901 continues to provide a wide range of goods to not just Dalyston locals but all surrounding areas also.

[14] The Bunurong aboriginal people were custodians of this stretch of coast for thousands of years prior to white settlement.