Perth Wetlands
Encyclopedia
The Perth Wetlands, also known as the Perth Great Lakes or the Great Lakes District, was a collection of fresh-water wetlands, swamps and lakes located on the Swan Coastal Plain
north of the city of Perth
in Western Australia
. Over a period of 80 years from the first British settlement in Western Australia in 1829 most of the wetlands were reclaimed for use as housing, parks and market garden
s.
, north of the present city on the Swan River
, through to Herdsman Lake
to the north-west of the city, approximately 3.8km east of the coast. The lakes were located in the present-day suburbs of Perth
, Highgate
, West Perth
, East Perth, Northbridge
, North Perth
, Leederville, West Leederville, Wembley
, Glendalough
, Mt. Hawthorn and Herdsman
, and the local government areas
of the City of Perth
, the Town of Vincent, the Town of Cambridge and the City of Stirling. Lake Jualbup
, formerly known as Dyson's Swamp and Shenton's Park Lake, is located in Shenton Park in the City of Subiaco
.
s at Lakes Monger and Henderson as well at Hyde Park.
in Sense of Place (1972) as follows:
The site [of Perth] was a well-timbered, low and narrow sand-ridge running east- south-east from Mt Eliza. ... To the north of this narrow ridge, there was a chain of freshwater lakes: Smith’s Lake, Lake Henderson, Third Lake, Lake Sutherland, Lake Irwin, Lake Tompson, Lake Poulett, Stones Lake, and Tea Tree Lake, which was part of Clause’s Brook. These lakes were in a broad valley running south-east from Lake Monger to the Swan River...
Following the arrival of the first Europeans in 1829, the township of Perth was gradually expanded. The area to the north of the township, was not considered ideal for settlement due to the extensive wetlands that stretched for almost 10km immediately north of the town site. Gradually, lakes closer to the city were drained, with the first drainage work commencing in 1832. Some wetlands were reclaimed by individual settlers on whose land the lakes encroached, others were reclaimed to be used for public works and housing. At the same time, the Swan River
foreshore was reclaimed to ease transportation along the river.
The last of the lakes were drained in the 1880s. However, some areas including Herdsman Lake, Lake Monger and Third Swamp (now Hyde Park) were unable to be drained due to their location, size or depth.
Swan Coastal Plain
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geological and biological zone, one of Western Australia's...
north of the city of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Over a period of 80 years from the first British settlement in Western Australia in 1829 most of the wetlands were reclaimed for use as housing, parks and market garden
Market garden
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
s.
Location
The wetlands were spread from ClaisebrookClaisebrook
Claisebrook is an area in the CBD of Perth, Western Australia, and may refer to:*The Claisebrook Train Station, Perth, or*The railway depot for maintaining Perth's electric trains....
, north of the present city on the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
, through to Herdsman Lake
Herdsman Lake
Herdsman Lake is a groundwater lake located 6 km north-west of Perth, Western Australia, in the suburb of Herdsman....
to the north-west of the city, approximately 3.8km east of the coast. The lakes were located in the present-day suburbs of Perth
Perth, Western Australia (suburb)
Perth is a locality covering the central inner-city area and central business district of the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan region. Perth is split between the City of Perth and the City of Vincent local authorities. Perth was named after Perth, Scotland.-Built environment:The dominant land...
, Highgate
Highgate, Western Australia
Highgate is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Vincent and north of the CBD. Highgate was named for the village of Highgate in Kent, England...
, West Perth
West Perth, Western Australia
West Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It is part of the inner mixed zone, and has predominantly office blocks which have displaced residential buildings. There is a high proportion of miners and consultants, and particularly medical specialists, compared to...
, East Perth, Northbridge
Northbridge, Western Australia
Northbridge is an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia, separated from Perth's central business district by the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines...
, North Perth
North Perth, Western Australia
North Perth is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Vincent.This old, established suburb just three kilometres north of Perth’s CBD is a place of mainly solid brick homes built from the early 1900s, many of which are now undergoing extensive renovations in line with the...
, Leederville, West Leederville, Wembley
Wembley, Western Australia
Wembley is a western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the Town of Cambridge. Its postcode is 6014.The main streets in Wembley are Cambridge Street, Harborne Street, Grantham Street and Selby Street. It is an upper middle class, medium-density suburb. Wembley is home to Bold Park...
, Glendalough
Glendalough, Western Australia
Glendalough is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling, and is located about 6 kilometres from Perth's central business district along the Mitchell Freeway....
, Mt. Hawthorn and Herdsman
Herdsman, Western Australia
Herdsman is a light industrial suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.In the earlier days of settlement, cattle were raised near the lake area...
, and the local government areas
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
of the City of Perth
City of Perth
The City of Perth is a local government area and body, within the Perth Metropolitan Area, which is the capital of Western Australia. The local government body is commonly known as Perth City Council. The city covers the Perth central business district and surrounding suburbs...
, the Town of Vincent, the Town of Cambridge and the City of Stirling. Lake Jualbup
Lake Jualbup
Jualbup Lake, formerly Shenton Park Lake, is located in the suburb of Shenton Park, Perth, Western Australia. The lake is contained within Shenton Park, which is bounded by Lake Avenue, Excelsior Street, Evans Street and Herbert Road...
, formerly known as Dyson's Swamp and Shenton's Park Lake, is located in Shenton Park in the City of Subiaco
City of Subiaco
The City of Subiaco is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It covers an area of approximately 7 km² in inner western metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia and lies about 3 km west of the Perth CBD.-History:...
.
Aboriginal uses
Aboriginal tribes occupied the area around Perth for around 40 000 years before European settle, using the wetlands as a source of food (fish, waterfowl, crayfish and turtles) and fresh water. Local Nyungar tribes continued to use the lakes for resources and as a meeting place up until they were reclaimed for housing developments in the 1940s, with meetings of up to 400 people recorded in corroboreeCorroboree
A corroboree is a ceremonial meeting of Australian Aborigines. The word was coined by the European settlers of Australia in imitation of the Aboriginal word caribberie. At a corroboree Aborigines interact with the Dreamtime through dance, music and costume. Many ceremonies act out events from the...
s at Lakes Monger and Henderson as well at Hyde Park.
European settlement
Perth was founded by Captain James Stirling in June, 1829. The area on which Perth was built was described by George SeddonGeorge Seddon
George Seddon was an Australian academic who held university chairs in a range of subjects. He wrote popular books on the Australian landscape embracing diverse points of view...
in Sense of Place (1972) as follows:
Following the arrival of the first Europeans in 1829, the township of Perth was gradually expanded. The area to the north of the township, was not considered ideal for settlement due to the extensive wetlands that stretched for almost 10km immediately north of the town site. Gradually, lakes closer to the city were drained, with the first drainage work commencing in 1832. Some wetlands were reclaimed by individual settlers on whose land the lakes encroached, others were reclaimed to be used for public works and housing. At the same time, the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
foreshore was reclaimed to ease transportation along the river.
The last of the lakes were drained in the 1880s. However, some areas including Herdsman Lake, Lake Monger and Third Swamp (now Hyde Park) were unable to be drained due to their location, size or depth.
Remaining features
- Lake Herdsman 31°55′12"S 115°48′25"E (formerly known as the Great Lake) - the largest of the lakes. It has retained much of its former shape, although most of its interior is swamp rather than permanent water.
- Lake MongerLake MongerLake Monger is a large urban wetland on the Swan Coastal Plain in suburban Perth, Western Australia nestled between the suburbs of Leederville, Wembley and Glendalough...
31°55′44"S 115°49′40"E (formerly known as Triangle Lake; known by local Aboriginals as Galup) – the second-largest remaining lake. Much of the area of the lake was reclaimed for residential development, as well as Leederville Oval. - ClaisebrookClaisebrookClaisebrook is an area in the CBD of Perth, Western Australia, and may refer to:*The Claisebrook Train Station, Perth, or*The railway depot for maintaining Perth's electric trains....
31°57′06"S 115°52′53"E (now known as Claisebrook Cove; formerly known as Clause's Brook) a small inlet of the Swan RiverSwan River (Western Australia)The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
located in East Perth south of the Graham Farmer FreewayGraham Farmer FreewayThe Graham Farmer Freeway is a major part of the metropolitan road infrastructure in Perth, Western Australia. It is long and links Rivervale and East Perth with West Perth, bypassing Perth's central business district...
. Claisebrook was a free-flowing seasonal brook, dry in summer and flooding in winter, up until the 1990s, until it was reclaimed for development. However, in recent years, the brook has been refurnished, and is now a much-smaller still body of water known as Claisebrook Cove. A small footbridge known as Trafalgar Bridge crosses over it. - Walter's Brook 31°56′32"S 115°52′56"E (known by local Aboriginals as Warndoolier - a small tidal inlet of the Swan River located in Banks Reserve, Mt Lawley, originally named by Governor James Stirling after his older brother Walter. The brook originally flowed much further inland, and was located to the north of an open swamp, near the site of the present-day East Perth railway stationEast Perth railway stationEast Perth railway station is a Transperth railway station 1.9 km from Perth Train Station, on the Midland Line in Perth, Western Australia.It is next to the East Perth Terminal and Public Transport Centre, in Western Australia....
. The Mount Lawley Main Drain is located at Walter's Brook, and formerly supplied stormwaterStormwaterStormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
to Walter's Brook Engine House at East Perth Power StationEast Perth Power StationThe East Perth Power Station is a disused power station located in East Perth, Western Australia.The site consists of a complex of industrial buildings occupying more than 8.5 hectares, bounded by East Parade, Summers Street, the Swan River and the Graham Farmer Freeway.-History:The Power Station...
. - Smith's Lake 31°55′58"S 115°51′02"E (formerly known as Three Island Lake; known by local Aboriginals as Danjanberup) - a small suburban lake located between Beatty ParkBeatty ParkBeatty Park Leisure Centre is a swimming pool complex in the suburb of North Perth, Western Australia. The centre was built for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games as the major swimming event venue, along with the Perry Lakes Stadium athletics complex.The centre was refurbished in 1994...
and Charles Veryard Reserve in North PerthNorth Perth, Western AustraliaNorth Perth is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Vincent.This old, established suburb just three kilometres north of Perth’s CBD is a place of mainly solid brick homes built from the early 1900s, many of which are now undergoing extensive renovations in line with the...
. The area was originally owned by the Gooey family who operated a market garden near the site, before it was resumed by the Perth City Council in 1959, and was drained and subdivided for industrial and residential use. The lake was reduced to approximately 1/30 of its original size. - Hyde Park Lakes 31°56′15"S 115°51′46"E (former known as Third Swamp; known by local Aboriginals as Boojamooling) - Hyde Park is located on the site of Third Swamp, and still contains two lakes that were originally part of the Perth Wetlands, but were unable to be drained due to their depth of 2m.
Former features
- Tea-tree Lake - a small lagoon that appeared seasonally to the west of Claise Brook during flooding.
- Lake Kingsford - a lake located close to the inner-city of Perth that was drained in the 1830s. Most of the railways in Perth, and associated infrastructure, including Perth Railway StationPerth railway stationPerth Station including Perth Underground is the largest railway station in Perth, Western Australia, and functions as an interchange between the Transperth Trains Armadale / Thornlie, Fremantle, Joondalup, Mandurah and Midland railway lines, as well as the Transwa Australind.-History:The Victorian...
, Perth Underground StationPerth railway stationPerth Station including Perth Underground is the largest railway station in Perth, Western Australia, and functions as an interchange between the Transperth Trains Armadale / Thornlie, Fremantle, Joondalup, Mandurah and Midland railway lines, as well as the Transwa Australind.-History:The Victorian...
, the Horseshoe BridgeHorseshoe BridgeThe Horseshoe Bridge is a traffic bridge located in the central business district of the city of Perth, Western Australia.The bridge runs along William Street and crosses over the Fremantle to Perth railway line, at the western end of Perth Train Station...
and the main section of Wellington StreetWellington Street, PerthWellington Street is the northernmost of the four primary east-west streets in the central business district of Perth, Western Australia. It contains several of Perth's key facilities, including the new Harbour Town shopping development, the Wellington Street Bus Station and the Perth railway...
, were built on reclaimed land from Lake Kingsford. - Stone’s Lake (Yoorgoorading) - Perth Oval is located on the site of Stone's Lake
- Lake Poulett (“First Swamp”; known by local Aboriginals as Chalyeding)
- Lake Thomson (“Mew’s Swamp”) - partial reclamation by Thomas Mews led to the name Mew’s Swamp being given
- Lake Henderson (Boojoormelup)
- Lake Georgianna - a small lake to the south of Lake Monger, near the present-day Mitchell FreewayMitchell FreewayMitchell Freeway is a long freeway in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth's central business district with its outer northern suburbs. It is allocated Route 2 for its entire length and is named after former state Premier and Governor Sir James Mitchell....
Interchange. - Lake Irwin - a medium-size lake in between Lakes Sutherland and Kingsford. Perth Entertainment CentrePerth Entertainment CentrePerth Entertainment Centre is a former indoor arena and cinema complex, located in Wellington Street, in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia.-History:...
and later Perth ArenaPerth ArenaPerth Arena will be a new indoor sporting and entertainment arena located on Wellington Street in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia. It is currently being built on the site of the former carpark for the now defunct Perth Entertainment Centre...
were built on reclaimed land on the former site of the lake. - Lake Sutherland (“Padbury’s Lake”)
- Second Swamp
Trees and shrubs
- Melaleuca rhaphiophyllaMelaleuca rhaphiophyllaMelaleuca rhaphiophylla, or Swamp Paperbark, is a species of tree which is endemic to the South west region of Western Australia....
(swamp paperbark) - found especially in Lakes Herdsman, Monger and formerly Lake Henderson. - Banksia littoralisBanksia littoralisBanksia littoralis, commonly known as the Swamp Banksia, Swamp Oak, Pungura and the Western Swamp Banksia, is a tree in the plant genus Banksia. It is found in south west Western Australia from the south eastern metropolitan area of Perth to the Stirling Range and Albany...
(swamp banksia) - - Eucalyptus rudisEucalyptus rudisEucalyptus rudis, Flooded gum, is a medium sized tree with rough, dark and light grey bark, however north of Perth its bark is smooth and very similar to Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Leaves are stalked, alternate, ovate to orbicular 12 x 7 cm, slightly discolourous and dull grey-green...
(flooded gum) - - Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) -
- Various species of XanthorrhoeaXanthorrhoeaXanthorrhoea is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia and a member of family Xanthorrhoeaceae, being the only member of subfamily Xanthorrhoeoideae. The Xanthorrhoeaceae are monocots, part of order Asparagales. There are 28 species and five subspecies of Xanthorrhoea.-Description:All are...
(blackboys) - Melaleuca preissianaMelaleuca preissianaMelaleuca preissiana, commonly known as Stout Paperbark, Modong or Moonah, is a tree that grows in coastal areas of southwest Australia. It grows up to 15 metres tall, occurring chiefly in areas that are seasonally wet. It has papery bark, and pointed leaves from 1 to 1½ centimetres long and 1 to 2...
(modong) - Banksia littoralisBanksia littoralisBanksia littoralis, commonly known as the Swamp Banksia, Swamp Oak, Pungura and the Western Swamp Banksia, is a tree in the plant genus Banksia. It is found in south west Western Australia from the south eastern metropolitan area of Perth to the Stirling Range and Albany...
(swamp banksia) - Kunzea ericifoliaKunzea ericifoliaKunzea ericifolia, known as Spearwood or Pondil, is an erect woody evergreen shrub that is endemic to Western Australia.- Description :...
(spearwood) - woody, evergeen shrub usually 2–6 metres tall - Banksia ilicifoliaBanksia ilicifoliaBanksia ilicifolia, commonly known as Holly-leaved Banksia, is a tree in the plant Proteaceae family. Endemic to southwest Western Australia, it belongs to Banksia subg. Isostylis, a subgenus of three closely related Banksia species with inflorescences that are dome-shaped heads rather than...
(holly-leaf banksia)
Sedges
- Baumea articulataBaumeaBaumea is a genus of the sedge family, which includes around 30 species native to Madagascar and the Pacific Islands, with 15 species in Australia. All are perennial rhizomatous herbs, with leaves and stems very similar in appearance. The inflorescence is terminal, with the flowers tightly...
- Typha orientalisTyphaTypha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is essentially cosmopolitan, being found in a variety of wetland habitats...
(broadleaf cumbungi) - generally considered a weed; also a fire hazard in summer. - Schoenoplectus validusSchoenoplectus tabernaemontaniSchoenoplectus tabernaemontani is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names softstem bulrush and great bulrush. It can be found throughout the world, growing in many types of moist and wet habitat, and sometimes in shallow water. It is quite variable in appearance...
(great bulrush) -
Herbaceous and aquatic plants
- Potomogeton pectinatus (fennel pondweed)
- Najas marinaNajas marinaNajas marina is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names spiny naiad and holly-leaved water nymph. It can be found nearly worldwide in many types of freshwater and brackish aquatic habitat, including bodies of alkaline water. This annual plant produces a slender, branching stem up to 40...
(prickly waternymph) - Cotula coronopifoliaCotula coronopifoliaThe small marsh flower Cotula coronopifolia bears the common names brass buttons, golden buttons, and buttonweed. The flowers are bright yellow discoid inflorescences that look like thick buttons. Individual plants spread stems along the ground and send up the knobby flowers at intervals...
(buttonweed) - an introduced species originally from Africa that appears on dried-up lakebeds during summer, especially in Claisebrook Cove.
Fungi
- Phytophthora cinnamomiPhytophthora cinnamomiPhytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...
- a soil-borne water mould causing dieback, a major plant fungus affecting trees at Herdsman Lake and Lake Monger.
Birds and waterfowl
Surveys have recorded over 30 different species of birds at Point Fraser, and over 100 different species of native and non-native birds that inhabit Lakes Herdsman and Monger for some period of the year, around two-thirds of which breed there. The most notable species include:- Cygnus atratus (black swan) - Western Australia's state emblem, found on both the flagFlag of Western AustraliaThe current state flag of Western Australia was officially adopted by the government of Western Australia in 1953.The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge is a gold disc with a native Black Swan, the swan is facing towards the hoist...
and coat-of-armsCoat of arms of Western AustraliaThe Coat of arms of Western Australia is the official coat of arms of the Australian State of Western Australia. It was granted by a Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dated 17 March 1969.-Description:...
of Western Australia, as well as in Australian popular cultureBlack Swan emblems and popular cultureThe Black Swan is widely referenced in Australian culture, although the character of that importance historically diverges between the prosaic in the east and the symbolic in west. The Black Swan is also of spiritual significance in the traditional histories of many Australian Aboriginal peoples...
as a symbol of Western Australia. - Several varieties of duck, including:
- Tadorna tadornoides (mountain duck)
- Chenonetta jubata (wood duck)
- Several varieties of cormorant, including:
- Phalacrocorax varius (pied cormorant)
- Microcarbo melanoleucos (little pied cormorant)
- Phalacrocorax fuscescens (black cormorant)
- Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (little black cormorant)
Reptiles and amphibians
- Cherax quinquecarinatusCherax quinquecarinatusCherax quinquecarinatus is a small freshwater crayfish endemic to the south-west corner of Australia. It is one of two species known as gilgie, or jilgi, which is a seasonal food source for people of the region...
(common gilgie) - a small freshwater variety of crayfish that was especially present in lakes HerdsmanHerdsman LakeHerdsman Lake is a groundwater lake located 6 km north-west of Perth, Western Australia, in the suburb of Herdsman....
and MongerLake MongerLake Monger is a large urban wetland on the Swan Coastal Plain in suburban Perth, Western Australia nestled between the suburbs of Leederville, Wembley and Glendalough...
. They were used as a source of food by Aborigines up until the 1940s. - Cherax destructor (common yabby) - an introduced species species of crayfish posing a threat to the gilgy. It was first documented in Western Australia in the 1930s.
- Chelodina oblonga (long-necked turtle) - a small freshwater turtle endemic to Southwest AustraliaSouthwest AustraliaSouthwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
, growing up to 40cm in length.
Fish
- Pseudogobius olorum (Swan River goby) - a small, native fish commonly found in Herdsman Lake.