Tony Park grew up in Campbelltown and, following his schooling, undertook a cadetship in journalism. In 1982 he joined the army reserve, reaching the rank of Major. (In 2002 he worked as a public affairs officer with the Australian ground forces in Afghanistan.) Park also worked for a short period in 1988 for the then Premier of New South Wales, Nick Greiner. Since the mid-1990s Park has divided his time between South Africa and Australia.