| Lake Richmond | |
|---|---|
 Lake Richmond from the look out tower | |
  Lake Richmond | |
| Location | Rockingham, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°17′10″S 115°42′54″E / 32.286°S 115.715°E |
| Type | Lake |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| |
| Designated | 30 June 2017 |
| Reference no. | 18483 |
Lake Richmond (Aboriginal Australian name: Naragebup) is a freshwater lake in Rockingham, Western Australia. It is approximately 1,000 m × 600 m (3,300 ft × 2,000 ft), with an area of 40 ha (99 acres), and is 15 m (49 ft) deep in the centre. It is believed to be named after the London borough.[1] It is part of Rockingham Lakes Regional Park.
Overview
[edit]The lake is less than 1 km (0.62 mi) from the coast,[2] having separated from the ocean at Cockburn Sound within the last 4,000 years.[3][1]
The shallow waters within about 15 metres (49 ft)[3][1] of the edges of the lake are home to thrombolites, estimated to be about six million years old.[2][4] The internal structure of the thrombolites is believed to be unique in the world.[3][1]
In 1996, the Western Australian Museum concluded that structures on the lake were likely to be tidal weirs constructed by pre-colonial Indigenous Australians for use as fish traps. They were given preliminary protection under the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Djeran Fish Festival was subsequently organised as a celebration. However, the Department of Indigenous Affairs later concluded that they were not Aboriginal sites, following a review of aerial photographs and claims by a local resident that he had built the structures between the early 1960s and early 1980s.[5]
Before 1960, the lake's salinity was 2000–3500 mg/L.[a] In the 1960s it was used as part of an urban drainage scheme; the Water Board constructed inlet and outlet drains. Subsequently the salinity level dropped to 300–400 mg/L.[6][1]
A boardwalk extends approximately 115 m (377 ft)[b] into the lake.[2][4]
Water birds that inhabit the area include the Australian pelican, black swan, Australian shelduck, musk duck, white-faced heron and common greenshank.[4] The lake is home to the Swan River goby (Pseudogobius olorum), eastern mosquitofish, sea mullet, goldfish and yabbies.[6][7]
The lake was used as a source of fresh water by the local indigenous Noongar people, as well as the settlers of the Swan River Colony.[2][1]
The 10th Light Horse Regiment had a camp near the lake during the war years.[1]
In 2017, the lake was given a permanent entry on the State Register of Heritage Places.[8] It also listed on the WA Register of Aboriginal Sites, as RAS #15974.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^ less than 10% of seawater, which is typically around 35,000 mg/L.
- ^ Measured on Google Maps' satellite view, 16 August 2017.
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation: Lake Richmond, Rockingham, Heritage Council of Western Australia, 30 June 2017, retrieved 16 August 2017
- ^ a b c d Wynne, Emma (15 August 2017). "Lake Richmond's multi-million-year history can be found just beneath the surface". ABC Radio Perth. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "Thrombolite (microbial) community of coastal freshwater lakes of the Swan Coastal Plain (Lake Richmond)". Department of the Environment & Energy. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "Lake Richmond". Department of Parks & Wildlife. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ Randolph, Peter (2004). "Lake Richmond 'fish traps'?". World Archaeology. 36 (4): 502–506.
- ^ a b Ecoscape (2009). Lake Richmond Management Plan 2008 (PDF) (Report). City of Rockingham. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ Rose, Tom; Morgan, David; Gill, Howard (22 July 2004). Lake Richmond Fish Survey (PDF) (Report). Perth: Murdoch University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Lake Richmond". InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2017.