History since 1832 Lake Monger

looking south across lake towards city of perth

the lake part of series of freshwater wetlands running north swan river along coastal plain approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi). lake monger grouped georgiana lake , lake sutherland (both near mitchell freeway, near sutherland , newcastle streets) , herdsman lake , area made known great lakes district.

european settlement led many of wetlands areas being drained land reclamation take advantage of fertile soil farming enterprises, , expansion of parks , recreation areas. lake monger , herdsman lake last 2 major wetlands remaining close city. city of perth sits on area of reclaimed wetlands. thought between 49% , 80% of wetlands on coastal plain have been drained, filled or cleared since 1832.

other lakes , swamps in immediate northern vicinity of perth township lake kingsford (site of current perth railway station), lake irwin (perth entertainment centre) , further north stone s lake (perth oval), lake poullet (first swamp, part of birdwood square), lake thomson (mews swamp, between lake, brisbane , beaufort streets) , lake henderson (parts of robertson park , dorrien gardens). further north still lay second swamp (bulwer street, east of lake street), third swamp (hyde park) , 3 island lake , smith s lake (now charles veryard reserve). many of these lakes formed natural interconnected drainage system found way swan river @ east perth through claise brook.

in 1833, water draining lakes kingsford, irwin, sutherland , henderson used drive water-driven mill located in mill street.

timeline

in 1829, british expedition established swan river colony , in 1830, lake monger site of minor skirmish between white settlers , noongar man name of midgegooroo.
by 1832, lands around lake had been subdivided 8 lots: southern 1 acquired john henry monger , described 200 acres [81 hectares] of perthshire location ae abutting lake monger. william h. leeder took adjoining land grants @ perthshire locations ac , ad, later added locations 1, ax , ay. area known suburb of leederville.
from 1850 1868, arrival of convicts swelled population , market gardening on northern side of city expanded meet greater demand food. 1870s, perth surrounded gardens in fan spread cole’s garden in east leeder’s in west .
on 9 august 1874 john herold (54) , stepson george wansbrough (11) drowned when flat-bottomed boat capsized. herold heard telling wansbrough careful of how moved, lest capsize boat, shortly before disappeared. (the inquirer & commercial news 12 aug 1874.)
on 16 february 1876 mary anne costello (a student @ convent school) drowned while bathing on school picnic. girl bathing rescued.
on 5 december 1876, jemmy, aboriginal, drowned after wading river retrieve duck d shot.
in december 1894, young schoolboy michael john maley found dead @ base of tree near lake brother. supposed d been birds-nest gathering, climbed tree , lost hold. died internal injuries.
on 21 october 1901 louisa heathorn (37) , francis george hatch (26) both drowned whilst boating together.
in 1902, leederville council appointed board under parks , reserves act 1896 manage lake.
in 1909, construction of drain completed connected lake swan river , allowed water level managed. drain still operates today.


lake monger jetty promenade , pavilion ca. 1914



in 1912, lake had area of 111 hectares (270 acres).
on 26 may 1917 frederick george ribbins (7) drowned @ lake while playing friend.
on 19 october 1918 wilfred grenville carstairs (2 , half) drowned when fell small jetty , tumbled water. sister jumped in try , save him got difficulties herself , rescued in nick of time.
in 1920s, lake , surrounding areas, west , south still being used campsite noongars , providing food.
on 3 april 1920 frederick robert blakemore (11) drowned whilst canoeing alone.
from 1920s, newly formed city of perth started acquiring land until being used chinese market gardens , dairies conversion public parks , recreation areas. included land around eastern side of lake. 1928 gardeners gone , 1930, 50 hectares (120 acres) of land had been bought council developed part of lake monger reserve.
in august 1929 newborn baby found drowned in lake, wrapped in 2 nightdresses.
after many years of delays due lack of funds, silt dredging works commenced in may 1932 reclaim 20 hectares (49 acres) of swampland.
by june 1933, 110,000 tons of silt had been pumped, allowing 4.8 hectares of land reclaimed. of fringing vegetation removed , replaced lawns. southern shore of lake developed kiosk, bathing sheds, boat house , t-shaped jetty. swim-through on lake held part of celebrations, canoe race involving leederville, wembley , mount hawthorn boy scouts , series of bonfires. lake used extensively picnicking, yachting, swimming , fishing. areas of lake further dredged improve yachting.
as dredging silt, reclamation assisted dumping of rubbish , raw sewage nightsoil collectors on north-eastern side. 1936 water quality had deteriorated badly , reports of nuisance chironomids (midges) being made.
on 2 february 1937 keith william mcnamara (10) drowned when playing near bank of lake. thought slipped narrow.
on 25 september 1937 robert edward richards (9) drowned while playing in improvised canoe. efforts retrieve body handicapped rubbish had been dumped lake , dirtiness of water.
on 27 august 1939 reginald frederick rowles (16), drowned when small canvas boat hit squall , capsized. arnold noack (16), managed swim partway shore rescued.
after drowning of reginald rowles, after drownings of richards , mcnamara, boating prohibited on lake monger, , swimming discouraged.
despite this, on 4 january 1946 dorothea june bubbles mullane (12) drowned while bathing in lake.
on 3 october 1953 laurie bell ball (53) drowned. said deceased had been depressed @ time , there no suspicious circumstances.
between 1950 , 1964, 1.8-metre (5 ft 11 in) deep sanitary landfill in north , north-eastern parts of lake reclaimed further wetlands. covered 60 centimetres (24 in) of clean soil.
on 21 january 1954 frank howard middleton (5) drowned when moved away boys throwing mud @ him. ventured deep water , sank.
on 23 june 1954 charles james (75) drowned himself in lake.
in late 1950s, comprehensive plan lake drawn part of gordon stephenson s 1955 plan metropolitan region, perth , fremantle , saw provision of land within reserve set aside mitchell freeway, built in 1970s.
in 1960s small island created in south-western corner act bird refuge.
on 17 august 1963 jonathan david hunt (13) drowned while paddling upturned car hood wrecked car friend (on car hood). friend s improvised canoe sank hopped onto hunt s, sank , both ended in water. friend rescued , revived , realised hunt missing. hunt s body retrieved next day.
in 2006, local school discovered hundreds of dead fish around shore of lake. discovered residents living near lake using fertilizer containing phosphorus on lawns. fertilizer went drains, polluting lake.
in 2008, heavy rains caused north west section flood, creating small cove , several small islands , spits.




^ riggert, t.l. (1966) study of wetlands of swan coastal plain. department of fisheries , fauna, western australia.
^ godfrey, n. (1989) value of wetlands. in: wetlands in crisis. can local government do? (ed. anon), pp. 4–12. environmental protection agency, western australia.
^ miller, c. (1976) old battleground. living today (western australia), 29 january, 32-33.
^ bekle, h. (1981) wetlands lost: drainage of perth lake systems. western geographer.
^ stannage, c.t. (1979) people of perth, perth city council.
^ western australian times, 18 february 1876.
^ inquirer , commercial news, 6 december 1876.
^ evening news (sydney), 31 december 1894.
^ kalgoorlie miner, 22 october 1901.
^ metcalfe, v.j. (1988) development , management plan lake monger. city of perth, western australia.
^ west australian, 2 june 1917.
^ kalgoorlie miner, 21 october 1918.
^ kalgoorlie miner, 5 april 1920.
^ city of perth correspondence file, 64/1937 & 57/1938.
^ mercury (hobart), 27 august 1929.
^ city planning department (may 1969) short history of planning in perth, perth city council.
^ perth city council (1960) municipal yearbook 1960. perth city council.
^ kalgoorlie miner, 4 february 1937.
^ west australian, 27 september 1937.
^ mirror, 2 september 1939.
^ west australian, 8 october 1939.
^ daily news, 5 january 1946.
^ west australian, 12 october 1953.
^ slattery, 1963.
^ sydney morning herald, 22 january 1954.
^ west australian, 24 june 1954.
^ age, 19 august 1963.