Lake Wendouree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Wendouree |
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The lake pictured in 2006, looking towards central Ballarat and beyond to Mount Warrenheip
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 Lake Wendouree
Location in Victoria
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| Location | Ballarat, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°33′02″S 143°50′00″E / 37.55056°S 143.83333°E |
| Type | Artificial |
| Primary inflows | Gong Gong Reservoir; various |
| Primary outflows | Gnarr Creek outlet; evaporation |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
| Surface area | 2.38 km2 (0.92 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Water volume | 3,860 ML (850,000,000 imp gal; 1.02×109 US gal) |
| Shore length1 | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Settlements | Ballarat |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Wendouree is a special lake in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. It's not a natural lake, but one that was created by people. It's also quite shallow.
The name Wendouree comes from an Aboriginal word. The story says that when a settler named William Cross Yuille asked a local Aboriginal woman the name of the swamp, she replied wendaaree, meaning 'go away'. This became the lake's official name.
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Where is Lake Wendouree?
Lake Wendouree is part of a group of natural wetlands. These wetlands are found on the plains of the Central Highlands. Other nearby lakes include Lake Burrumbeet and Lake Learmonth.
After the Victorian gold rush in 1851, the swamp was dammed. Since the 1860s, it has been a popular place for fun activities. Today, Lake Wendouree is important for its history, nature, and recreation. It even hosted events for the 1956 Summer Olympics.
The lake is shallow, so it has dried up during times of drought. The most recent time it dried up was between 2006 and 2011.
The History of Lake Wendouree
Long ago, Lake Wendouree was a stream flowing west. But a lava flow blocked it on three sides. Now, its water flows east, eventually reaching the Yarrowee River. Early Europeans called it "Black Swamp" because of its dark reeds. Later, it was known as "Yuille's Swamp" after William Cross Yuille.
When Ballarat was first mapped in 1851, the swamp was recorded as Wendouree. The Aboriginal word, which was misunderstood, became the official name. Plans to dam the swamp's outlet began early on. A bank was raised and pipes were added. This made it the first steady water supply for the growing gold rush town.
In 1864, a path for rowing was made through the reeds. The first steamboats arrived. In 1869, a bad drought caused the lake to dry up completely. But the water returned the next year, and the boats came back.
Within ten years, the lake became the main spot for fun in Ballarat. By the 1880s, many paddle steamers, ferries, yachts, and rowers used the lake. New boat sheds were built, and beautiful gardens grew around its edges.
Olympic Games Connection
Lake Wendouree was chosen to host the rowing and canoeing events for the 1956 Summer Olympics. Today, an Olympic monument marks the end of the race course.
The 2000s Drought
The 2000s Australian drought caused Lake Wendouree to dry up in 2006. Some people looked for old items on the dry lake bed. Many local groups, like boating and rowing clubs, had to stop their activities. The dry lake also affected tourism in Ballarat.
During the summer of 2008-09, fairy grass grew on the dry lake bed. This grass caught fire several times. Luckily, good rainfall in 2010 helped the lake. Also, work on stormwater and wetlands in 2008 and 2009 helped. By 2011, the lake was full again.
Wildlife at Lake Wendouree
The reed beds and islands at Lake Wendouree are a safe home for many animals. There are 166 recorded species of birds here. Some common waterbirds you might see are black swans, Pacific black ducks, dusky moorhens, and purple swamphens. You can also spot Eurasian coots, musk ducks, great crested grebes, silver gulls, and little pied cormorants. Information boards along the Fairyland Wetland Walk tell you more about these animals.
About 100 rakali (Australian water rats) live around the shore. You might see them in Fairyland at dawn or dusk. The lake also has many different kinds of pond life. This makes it a great place for school groups to visit and study environmental science.
Getting Around Lake Wendouree
A vintage electric tram runs along the western side of the lake. Volunteers at the Ballarat Tramway Museum have saved fifteen old trams. They also have many items from Ballarat's tram past. This tramway attracts many visitors each year. Horse-drawn trams first carried visitors to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in 1887.
Paddle steamers have also been used on the lake. They were for both transport and fun. The most famous one, the Golden City, has been fixed up. It now offers tourist trips every Sunday. The Begonia Princess paddleboat also returned to Lake Wendouree in 2012. It is another popular attraction on the lake.
Fun Activities at the Lake
Boating has always been a popular sport and hobby on the lake. For many years, local schools have held the "Head of the Lake" rowing competition here.
The path around the lake is 6 km long. It's a great challenge for people who enjoy walking, cycling, and running. Thousands of people complete the circuit every week. For serious athletes, the fastest time to run the 6 km lap is 16 minutes and 10 seconds. This record was set in 1992 by Olympic marathon runner Steve Moneghetti.
In recent years, Lake Wendouree has also hosted the yearly Goldfields Festival and Springfest extravaganza.
