The 3,540-hectare (8,700-acre) national park is situated from 31 kilometres (19 mi) at its westernmost points at Ferntree Gully and Boronia to 45 kilometres (28 mi) at its easternmost point at Silvan, east of the Melbourne central business district.

Evelyn and Montrose Reserve were formally added to the national park.

[1] The region was originally inhabited by the Bunurong and Woewurrong Aboriginal people.

During the late last century, farming began in the area as roads and railways were built and the 'Puffing Billy' narrow-gauge line from Ferntree Gully to Gembrook started in 1900.

A cat curfew was introduced in the entire Dandenong Ranges area in 1991, and since then the numbers and variety of lyrebirds and some other native species have climbed dramatically.