Perth Wetlands facts for kids
The Perth Wetlands were a group of freshwater wetlands, swamps, and lakes. They were also called the Perth Great Lakes or the Great Lakes District. These wetlands were located north of the city of Perth in Western Australia.
Starting in 1829, when British settlers first arrived, most of these wetlands were drained. Over about 80 years, the land was turned into areas for homes, parks, and farms.
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Where Were the Perth Wetlands Located?
The Perth Wetlands stretched from Claise Brook near the Swan River to Herdsman Lake in the north-west. This area was about 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) east of the coast.
Today, these areas are part of many Perth suburbs. These include Perth, Highgate, West Perth, and East Perth. Other suburbs are Northbridge, North Perth, Leederville, and West Leederville. You can also find them in Wembley, Glendalough, Mount Hawthorn, and Herdsman.
Jualbup Lake, also known as Dyson's Swamp, is in Shenton Park.
History of the Perth Wetlands
How Aboriginal People Used the Wetlands
Aboriginal tribes lived around Perth for about 40,000 years before Europeans arrived. They used the wetlands as an important source of food. They found fish, waterfowl, crayfish, and turtles there. The wetlands also provided fresh water.
Local Nyungar tribes continued to use the lakes for resources. They also used them as meeting places. Even in the 1940s, before the land was used for housing, large gatherings took place. Up to 400 people met for corroborees at Lakes Monger and Henderson, and at Hyde Park.
European Settlement and Land Changes
Perth was founded by Captain James Stirling in June 1829. The area where Perth was built had many trees and a low, narrow sand ridge. North of this ridge was a chain of freshwater lakes. These included Smith's Lake, Lake Henderson, and Lake Irwin.
When Europeans first arrived, the area north of Perth was not good for building. This was because of the many wetlands that stretched for almost 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Slowly, lakes closer to the city were drained. The first drainage work began in 1832.
Some wetlands were drained by settlers who owned the land. Others were drained for public projects and new homes. At the same time, the Swan River foreshore was also drained. This made transportation easier along the river.
Most of the lakes were drained by the 1880s. However, some areas could not be drained. These included Herdsman Lake, Lake Monger, and Third Swamp (now Hyde Park). They were too large or too deep.
What Remains of the Perth Wetlands Today?
Many parts of the original Perth Wetlands are gone. But some lakes and waterways still exist. Here are some of the remaining features:
| Name | What it's known for |
|---|---|
| Lake Herdsman | This is the largest of the original lakes. It still looks much like it used to. However, most of its inside is now swamp, not deep water. |
| Lake Monger | This is the second-largest lake that remains. A lot of its area was used for homes and for Leederville Oval. |
| Claise Brook | This is a small inlet of the Swan River in East Perth. It used to be a brook that flowed freely. It was dry in summer and flooded in winter. In the 1990s, it was changed for development. Now it's a smaller, still body of water called Claisebrook Cove. |
| Walter's Brook | This is a small tidal inlet of the Swan River in Banks Reserve, Mount Lawley. It was named by Governor James Stirling. It used to flow much further inland. |
| Smith's Lake | This is a small lake in North Perth. It was once much larger. The area was used for farming before it was drained and divided for buildings. The lake is now about 1/30 of its original size. |
| Hyde Park Lakes | Hyde Park is built on the site of Third Swamp. It still has two lakes that were part of the original wetlands. They couldn't be drained because they were 2 meters (6.6 feet) deep. |
Former Features of the Perth Wetlands
Many lakes and swamps were completely drained and no longer exist. Here are some of them:
- Tea-tree Lake - A small lagoon that appeared only during floods.
- Lake Kingsford - This lake was drained in the 1830s. Much of Perth's railway system was built on land reclaimed from this lake. This includes Perth Railway Station and Wellington Street.
- Stone’s Lake (Yoorgoorading) - Perth Oval is now located where this lake used to be.
- Lake Poulett (“First Swamp”; Chalyeding)
- Lake Thomson (“Mew’s Swamp”)
- Lake Henderson (Boojoormelup)
- Lake Georgianna - A small lake near where the Mitchell Freeway is today.
- Lake Irwin - A medium-sized lake. The Perth Entertainment Centre and later Perth Arena were built on its former site.
- Lake Sutherland (“Padbury’s Lake”)
- Second Swamp
Nature in the Perth Wetlands
The Perth Wetlands were home to many different plants and animals. Some of these species are still found there today.
Flora: Plants of the Wetlands
Many types of trees, shrubs, and other plants grew in the Perth Wetlands:
Trees and Shrubs
- Melaleuca rhaphiophylla (swamp paperbark) - Common in Lakes Herdsman and Monger.
- Banksia littoralis (swamp banksia)
- Eucalyptus rudis (flooded gum)
- Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum)
- Various types of Xanthorrhoea (grass trees)
- Melaleuca preissiana (modong)
- Kunzea ericifolia (spearwood) - A woody shrub that grows 2 to 6 meters (6.6 to 19.7 feet) tall.
- Banksia ilicifolia (holly-leaf banksia)
Sedges
- Baumea articulata
- Typha orientalis (broadleaf cumbungi) - This plant is often seen as a weed and can be a fire risk in summer.
- Schoenoplectus validus (great bulrush)
Herbaceous and Aquatic Plants
- Potomogeton pectinatus (fennel pondweed)
- Najas marina (prickly waternymph)
- Cotula coronopifolia (buttonweed) - An introduced plant from Africa. It appears on dry lakebeds in summer.
Fungi
- Phytophthora cinnamomi - A fungus that causes "dieback" disease. It affects trees at Herdsman Lake and Lake Monger.
Fauna: Animals of the Wetlands
The Perth Wetlands were a habitat for many animals, especially birds.
Birds and Waterfowl
Surveys have found over 30 different bird species at Point Fraser. Lakes Herdsman and Monger are home to over 100 different bird species. About two-thirds of these birds breed there. Some notable species include:
- Cygnus atratus (black swan) - This is Western Australia's state emblem. You can see it on the state's flag and coat-of-arms.
- Several types of duck, such as:
- Tadorna tadornoides (mountain duck)
- Chenonetta jubata (wood duck)
- Several types 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 quinquecarinatus (common gilgie) - A small freshwater crayfish. It was common in Lakes Herdsman and Monger. Aboriginal people used them as food until the 1940s.
- Cherax destructor (common yabby) - This is an introduced crayfish species. It poses a threat to the native gilgie. It was first seen in Western Australia in the 1930s.
- Chelodina colliei (long-necked turtle) - A small freshwater turtle found only in Southwest Australia. It can grow up to 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) long.
Fish
- Pseudogobius olorum (Swan River goby) - A small, native fish often found in Herdsman Lake.
