Galup

The indigenous Noongar people of the south-western region call the area {{lang|nys |Keiermulu}} ({{translation |the home fires or camp}}), Lake Galup, or Lake Kalup.

After European settlement, it became known as either Large Lake or Triangle Lake (based on its roughly triangular shape) before being named Monger's Lake in 1831. In April 1932 its name was changed to Lake Monger.

On 28 August 2024, the Town of Cambridge voted to change the name of Lake Monger to Galup (Lake Monger), and a request was submitted to Landgate to permanently change the name to Galup.{{cite news |title=Popular lake in Perth's north set for name change |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/perthnow-western-suburbs/lake-monger-in-west-leederville-set-to-be-renamed-to-galup-in-recognition-of-whadjuk-noongar-history-c-15848513 |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=PerthNow |date=27 August 2024 |language=en}}

On 17 June 2025, Landgate renamed the lake to Galup and the surrounding reserve to Galup Reserve.{{Cite web |title=Galup Reserve |url=https://www.cambridge.wa.gov.au/Discover/Parks-Facilities/Parks-Beaches-and-Playgrounds/Galup-Reserve |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=cambridge.wa.gov.au |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Renaming of Lake Monger to Traditional Noongar Name 'Galup' {{!}} Western Australian Government |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Renaming-of-Lake-Monger-to-Traditional-Noongar-Name-%27Galup%27-20250617 |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=www.wa.gov.au |language=en}}

{{Main|Perth Wetlands}}

The lake was originally part of a series of freshwater wetlands running north from the Swan River along the coastal plain for approximately {{convert|50|km}}.

Little is known about the use of the lake by the Noongars prior to the British settlement other than the area was known to be within the area inhabited by those people. Given its geographical features, it could have been used regularly as a significant camping and hunting site with black swans and other wildfowl as well as turtles, frogs, gilgies and mudfish hunted as food.

Associated with the lake is the Wagyl, part of Noongar mythology. The myth describes the track of a serpent being, who in his journey towards the sea, deviates from his route and emerges from the ground which gives rise to Lake Monger. The lake and a significant part of the reserve are registered with the Department of Indigenous Affairs as an Aboriginal heritage site of historic and mythological significance to the Aboriginal people.

File:LakeMonger.jpg]]

In 1829, a British expedition established the Swan River Colony and in 1830, Lake Monger was the site of minor skirmishes between white settlers and Noongar men, one of which was Midgegooroo.

After the establishment of the colony, Lake Monger was grouped with the Georgiana Lake and Lake Sutherland (both near Mitchell Freeway, near Sutherland and Newcastle streets) and Herdsman Lake and together the area made up what was known as The Great Lakes District. European settlement led to many of the wetlands areas being drained for land reclamation, to take advantage of the fertile soil for farming enterprises, and for expansion of parks and recreation areas; it is thought that between 49%Riggert, T.L. (1966) A study of the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain. Department of Fisheries and Fauna, Western Australia. and 80%Godfrey, N. (1989) The value of wetlands. In: Wetlands in crisis. What can Local Government do? (Ed. Anon), pp. 4–12. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Australia. of the wetlands on the coastal plain have been drained, filled or cleared since 1832, leaving Lake Monger and Herdsman Lake as the last two major wetlands remaining close to the city.

By 1832, the lands around the lake had been subdivided into eight lots: a southern one was acquired by John Henry Monger and described as "{{convert|200|acres|ha|disp=sqbr}} of Perthshire location Ae abutting Lake Monger".{{quote without source |date=February 2025}} William H. Leeder took up adjoining land grants at Perthshire locations Ac and Ad, to which he later added locations 1, Ax and Ay. This area is now known as the suburb of Leederville. A site was allocated in 1833 as a "reserve" and food depot for Noongar people, a decision of the government that was sharply rebuked by Robert Menli Lyon.{{cite Q |Q125995168 |mode=cs1 |last=Green |first=Neville James |chapter=Aborigines and White Settlers in the Nineteenth Century |pages=72–123}}

In 1902, the Municipality of Leederville appointed a board under the Parks and Reserves Act 1896 to manage the lake. In 1909, construction of a drain was completed which connected the lake with the Swan River and which allowed the water level to be managed. This drain still operates today. In 1912, the lake had an area of {{convert|111|ha}}.

In the 1920s, the lake and surrounding areas, mainly to the west and south were still being used as a campsite by Noongars and providing food. From the early 1920s, the newly formed City of Perth started acquiring land which was until then being used as Chinese market gardens and dairies for conversion into public parks and recreation areas. This included land mainly around the eastern side of the lake. By 1928 the gardens were gone and by 1930, {{convert|50|ha}} of land had been bought by the council to be developed as part of the Lake Monger Reserve.

After many years of delays due to lack of funds, silt dredging works commenced in May 1932 to reclaim {{convert|20|ha}} of the mainly swampland. By June 1933, {{convert|110000|LT|t e6lb|order=out|abbr=off}} of silt had been pumped, allowing {{convert|4.8|ha}} of land to be reclaimed. Much of the fringing vegetation was removed and replaced with lawns. The southern shore of the lake was developed with a kiosk, bathing sheds, boat house and a T-shaped jetty. A "swim-through" on the lake was held as part of the celebrations, as well as a canoe race involving Leederville, Wembley and Mount Hawthorn Boy Scouts and a series of bonfires. The lake was used extensively for picnicking, yachting, swimming and fishing. Some areas of the lake were further dredged to improve yachting.City Planning Department (May 1969) A Short History of Planning in Perth, Perth City Council. As well as dredging silt, reclamation was assisted by the dumping of rubbish and raw sewage from night soil collectors on the north-eastern side. By 1936 the water quality had deteriorated badly and reports of nuisance chironomids (midges) were being made.Perth City Council (1960) Municipal Yearbook 1960. Perth City Council.

Between 1950 and 1964, a {{convert|1.8|m|ft|adj=mid|-deep}} sanitary landfill in the north and north-eastern parts of the lake reclaimed further wetlands. This was covered by {{convert|60|cm}} of clean soil.{{sfnp |Slattery |1963 |p= }}{{missing long citation |date=June 2025}}

In the late 1950s, a comprehensive plan for the lake was drawn up as part of Gordon Stephenson's 1955 Plan for the Metropolitan Region, Perth and Fremantle and which saw the provision of land within the reserve set aside for the Mitchell Freeway, which was built in the 1970s.

In the 1960s a small island was created in the south-western corner to act as a bird refuge.

In 2006, a local school discovered hundreds of dead fish around the shore of the lake. It was discovered that residents living near the lake were using fertilizer containing phosphorus on their lawns. This fertilizer went into drains, polluting the lake. In 2008, heavy rains caused the north west section to flood, creating a small cove and several small islands and spits.

In 2019, a strong smell that permeated the north east part of the lake for several years was found to be caused by rotting algae.{{Cite web |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/solved-the-odd-smell-hanging-around-perths-northern-suburbs-ng-b881106342z |title=Solved: The foul pong in Perth's burbs |date=14 February 2019 |website=Perthnow.com.au |access-date=24 November 2021}}

File:Lake Monger jetty promenade and pavilion c. 1914.jpg

Lake Monger has been the site of a number of drownings:

• On 9 August 1874, John Herold (54) and his stepson George Wansbrough (11) drowned when their flat-bottomed boat capsized. Herold was heard telling Wansbrough to be careful of how he moved, lest he capsize the boat, shortly before they disappeared.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65963482 |title=Good Templer Notes. |newspaper=The Inquirer And Commercial News |volume=XXXV |issue=2,516 |location=Western Australia |date=2 September 1874 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 16 February 1876, Mary Anne Costello (a student at the Convent School) drowned while bathing on a school picnic. Another girl who was bathing with her was rescued.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2975575 |title=Coroners' Inquest. |newspaper=The Western Australian Times |issue=159 |location=Western Australia |date=22 February 1876 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 5 December 1876, Jemmy, an Aboriginal man, drowned after wading into the river to retrieve a duck he had shot.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66301688 |title= Native Drowned|newspaper=The Inquirer And Commercial News |volume=XXXVII |issue=2,619 |location=Western Australia |date=6 December 1876 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 21 October 1901, Louisa Heathorn (37) and Francis George Hatch (26) both drowned whilst boating together.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24761979 |title=The Monger's Lake Drowning Cases. |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=17 |issue=4,880 |location=Western Australia |date=26 October 1901 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 26 May 1917, Frederick George Ribbins (7) drowned at the lake while playing with a friend.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37991391 |title=News & Notes |newspaper=Western Mail |volume=XXXII |issue=1,641 |location=Western Australia |date=8 June 1917 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 19 October 1918, Wilfred Grenville Carstairs (2 and a half) drowned when he fell from a small jetty and tumbled into the water. His sister jumped in to try to save him but soon got into difficulties herself and was rescued in the nick of time.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92744028 |title=Drowning Fatality |newspaper=Kalgoorlie Miner |volume=24 |issue=6167 |location=Western Australia |date=21 October 1918 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 3 April 1920, Frederick Robert Blakemore (11) drowned whilst canoeing alone.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27680085 |title=Drowned In Monger's Lake. |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=XXXVI |issue=5,617 |location=Western Australia |date=15 April 1920 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• In August 1929, a newborn baby was found drowned in the lake, wrapped in two nightdresses.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58418576 |title=Gruesome Find |newspaper=Sunday Times (Perth) |issue=1648 |location=Western Australia |date=25 August 1929 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=5 (First Section) |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 2 February 1937, Keith William McNamara (10) drowned when playing near the bank of the lake. It was thought he slipped from the narrow footpath.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41273840 |title=Boy Drowned. |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=53 |issue=15,790 |location=Western Australia |date=3 February 1937 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 25 September 1937, Robert Edward Richards (9) drowned while playing in an improvised canoe. Efforts to retrieve his body were handicapped by the rubbish which had been dumped into the lake and by the dirtiness of the water.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41433995 |title=Boy Drowned. |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=53 |issue=15,990 |location=Western Australia |date=27 September 1937 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 27 August 1939, Reginald Frederick Rowles (16), drowned when his small canvas boat was hit by a squall and capsized. He was with Arnold Noack (16), who managed to swim partway to shore where he was rescued.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75867263 |title=Body Recovered |newspaper=Mirror |volume=17 |issue=898 |location=Western Australia |date=2 September 1939 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} After the drowning of Reginald Rowles, so soon after the drownings of Richards and McNamara, boating was prohibited on Lake Monger, and swimming discouraged.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58967297 |title=Boating On Lake Monger |newspaper=Sunday Times (Perth) |issue=2176 |location=Western Australia |date=8 October 1939 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 4 January 1946, Dorothea June "Bubbles" Mullane (12) drowned while bathing in the lake.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75943748 |title=Girl Drowns In Monger's Lake |newspaper=Mirror |volume=24 |issue=1234 |location=Western Australia |date=5 January 1946 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 3 October 1953, Laurie Bell Ball (68) drowned. It was said the deceased had been depressed at the time and there were no suspicious circumstances.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article266139704 |title=Body By Lake |newspaper=The Daily News |volume=LXXI |issue=24,487 |location=Western Australia |date=8 October 1953 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 21 January 1954, Frank Howard Middleton (5) drowned when he ventured into deep water and sank.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49612681 |title=Sea And Lake Each Claim Boy Victim |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=70 |issue=21,062 |location=Western Australia |date=22 January 1954 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 23 June 1954, Charles James (75) drowned himself in the lake.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article266151637 |title=Drowned Man 74 Found In Lake |newspaper=The Daily News |volume=LXXII |issue=24,206 |location=Western Australia |date=23 June 1954 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=8|via=National Library of Australia}}
• On 17 August 1963, Jonathan David Hunt (13) drowned while paddling an upturned car hood from a wrecked car with a friend (on another car hood). The friend's improvised canoe sank so he hopped onto Hunt's, which also sank and both ended up in the water. The friend was rescued and revived and it was only then realised Hunt was missing. Hunt's body was retrieved the next day.The Age, 19 August 1963.

Additionally, in December 1894, young schoolboy Michael John Maley was found dead at the base of a tree near the lake by his brother. It was supposed he had been birds-nest gathering, climbed the tree and lost his hold. He died from internal injuries.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3069985 |title=The Mongers' Lake Fatality |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=10 |issue=2,750 |location=Western Australia |date=7 December 1894 |accessdate=21 June 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

File:Lake Monger wooded foreshore c. 1914.jpg

A reed island was constructed in the 1960s to provide a summer refuge for birds. Thirty eight species of birds have been sighted including black swans, cormorants, spoonbills and pelicans.

The lake also supports southwestern snake-necked turtles, large skinks, and two species of frogs. Fish common to the lake are all introduced species including goldfish, carp, mosquito fish and English perch.

Vegetation in the 1800s comprised swampland trees; Melaleuca rhaphiophylla, Banksia littoralis, and Eucalyptus rudis. Xanthorrhoea (balga or grasstree), rushes, wattle and tea tree were the common flora, but with land reclamation, rushes were removed to plant lawns and construct sandy beaches. None of the banksia and few paperbarks remain and trees are now generally confined to a narrow strip surrounding the shoreline, mainly on the northern and eastern sides.Town of Vincent, Wetlands Interpretation Project: Guide to Sources

• Islands of Perth, Western Australia

{{reflist|1=30em|refs=

{{cite book |author1=Collard, L. |author2=Revell, G. |author3=Palmer, D. |author4=Leonard, L. |date=1999 |title=Noongar Placenames associated with the Goordandalup (Crawley bay) area of the Gabee Derbalor Derbal Yaragan Beloo (Swan River)}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge.wa.gov.au/Leisure/Beaches_and_Parks/Parks/Lake_Monger_Reserve |title=About Lake Monger Reserve |publisher=Town of Cambridge |year=2009 |access-date=25 August 2015}}

Miller, C. (1976) Old Battleground. Living Today (Western Australia), 29 January, 32-33.

Bekle, H. (1981) The wetlands lost: Drainage of the Perth lake systems. Western Geographer.

Metcalfe, V.J. (1988) Development and management plan for Lake Monger. City of Perth, Western Australia.

City of Perth Correspondence File, 64/1937 & 57/1938.

{{cite news |title=Lake Monger will return to traditional Noongar name Galup after massive community support |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/perth-drive/galup-name-change/104282864 |access-date=29 August 2024 |work=ABC listen |date=28 August 2024 |language=en-AU}}

}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050913093918/http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/html/onthisday/lakemonger.html Perth City Council]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050709013850/http://www.vincentheritage.com.au/downloads/vincent_history.pdf Vincent Council]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge.wa.gov.au/files/bc2f692b-07da-490c-846b-9cc3014fd1d2/Report%20-%20Lake%20Monger%20Reserve%20Management%20Plan%202008-2018.pdf |title=Lake Monger Reserve Management Plan: 2008–2018 |publisher=Town of Cambridge |year=2007 |author=Ecoscape (Australia) Pty Ltd |location=Perth, Western Australia}}
• [http://www.rmso.com.au/RMSOnline-war/faces/cwr/home/monger.xhtml University of Western Australia Centre for Water Research paper]
• Lund, M.A. (1992) [https://web.archive.org/web/20050502091005/http://www.ecu.edu.au/chs/cem/research/wetlands_research/case_studies/l_monger%20history/index.htm Lake Monger – An Introduction] PhD Thesis extract – Murdoch University

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Monger

Category:Tourist attractions in Perth, Western Australia

Monger