Edwardes Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edwardes Lake |
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 Edwardes Lake
Location in Victoria
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| Location | City of Darebin, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°42′52″S 144°59′29″E / 37.71444°S 144.99139°E |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Edgars Creek |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Average depth | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Residence time | cities = |
Edwardes Lake is a fun place in Melbourne, Australia. It's a lake in the suburb of Reservoir, created by building a dam across Edgars Creek. The lake is surrounded by a lovely area called Edwardes Lake Park, which is a great spot for recreation.
How Edwardes Lake Park Began
Edwardes Lake was first created in 1888. It was a private project, built by making a wall (called an embankment) across Edgars Creek. In those early days, the lake had boat sheds and places to buy refreshments. People also held sporting events on the water.
There was even a plan for a tram line to go past the lake, but this project didn't happen. Later, parts of the embankment were washed away by floods.
A Park for Everyone
In 1914, a kind person named Thomas Dyer Edwardes gave 34 acres of land to the City of Preston. This land was meant to become a public park. The Preston council then bought another 12 acres to make the park even bigger.
Carlo Catani, a chief engineer for the government, helped design the park's layout. A local group, the Reservoir Progress Association, put up fences and planted more than 700 trees.
The park officially opened on Saturday, July 29, 1916. Many important people attended, including J. G. Membrey and the Mayor, Cr C. Stanlake. Several women, including Mrs. Membrey and Mrs. Stanlake, each planted a tree to celebrate the opening.
The Weir and Memorial
After the park opened, new improvements were made to the lake. In 1919, a new concrete weir (a small dam that controls water flow) and spillway (a channel for excess water) were built. This project was funded by a special grant, and it's thought that soldiers who had returned from war helped with the work.
An Armistice Memorial stone was placed in the new weir. This new work was officially opened on April 3, 1920, by Brigadier-General Brand. Thanks to these improvements, swimming was officially allowed in the lake. The Preston Rowing Club and the Preston Lifesaving Club were also formed, showing off their skills between 1919 and 1939.
