Lake Leschenaultia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Leschenaultia |
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 Lake Leschenaultia
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°51′15″S 116°15′2″E / 31.85417°S 116.25056°E |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Water volume | 520 million litres (420 acre⋅ft) |
| Settlements | |
| Designated | 3 June 2005 |
| Reference no. | 8568 |
Lake Leschenaultia in Western Australia is a beautiful lake that used to be a dam for trains! Today, it's a popular spot for fun and relaxation. It's located in the Shire of Mundaring and holds a massive 520 million litres of water.
Where is Lake Leschenaultia?
Lake Leschenaultia is found near Chidlow, off Rosedale Road. It's about a 45-minute drive from Perth in the lovely Perth Hills.
The Lake's Interesting History
Lake Leschenaultia is a lake made by people, not nature. It was built around 1897 to help the Western Australian Government Railways. This lake was the biggest water storage built along the Eastern Railway line. It supplied water to steam trains for almost 50 years!
Since 1949, the lake has been a popular place for people to visit. Locals, and even visitors from other countries, come here to have fun. Many people who grew up nearby learned to swim at the lake. This was especially true before the 1960s, when there weren't many public swimming pools around.
In 2005, Lake Leschenaultia was added to a special list called the State Register of Heritage Places. This means it's an important historical site. It was recognized for its railway past and its role as a fun recreation area. In 2006, a long wooden jetty was removed for safety reasons. It was replaced with a floating platform, called a pontoon. Since 2007, the lake has also hosted a monthly local market.
The name "Leschenaultia" comes from a pretty blue flower. The lake's colour reminded people of the Blue Leschenaultia flower.
Fun Things to Do and See
The area around Lake Leschenaultia is looked after by the Shire of Mundaring. As of January 2013, there's no entry fee to visit the lake. However, you do need to pay if you want to camp, rent a canoe, or book a picnic area.
The lake offers many exciting activities:
- Enjoy picnics and camping trips.
- Go bushwalking on the trails.
- Try canoeing on the water.
- Swim in the lake.
- Watch for native plants and animals, especially birds.
The lake has great facilities to make your visit easy and fun. There's a café and a kiosk where you can buy snacks. You'll also find toilets, a playground for kids, and barbecue areas. There are plenty of picnic spots and grassy areas to relax on. A campground with a kitchen is available for campers. You can also explore walking and cycling trails.
Please remember that dogs are not allowed at the lake. Fishing is also not permitted.
