| Galup | |
|---|---|
| Kaarlup | |
| Keiermulu (Nyungar) | |
 The view from the northern shore of Galup with thePerth central business district skyline in the background | |
  Galup | |
| Location | Wembley,Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°55′46″S115°49′35″E / 31.9294°S 115.8265°E /-31.9294; 115.8265 (Galup) |
| Type | Wetland |
| Primary outflows | Claise Brook |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Designation | Park |
| Surface area | 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi) |
| Shore length1 | 4.5 km (2.8 mi) |
| Islands | 1 |
| References | [1][2] |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Galup | |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
Galup, formerlyLake Monger (Nyungar:Galup,[3]Keiermulu[1]) is a large urbanwetland on theSwan Coastal Plain in suburbanWembley, Western Australia, close to the suburbs ofGlendalough,Mount Hawthorn,Leederville andWest Leederville.
Located less than 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from thePerth central business district (CBD) and situated alongside theMitchell Freeway, it runs approximately north-west to south-east towards theSwan River and consists of 70 hectares (170 acres) of mainly open shallow water, with an island of 1.3 hectares (3.2 acres) in the south-west corner. The 110-hectare (270-acre) park within which the lake is situated is calledGalup Reserve.[4]
The lake is used extensively for recreation with up to 12,000 visitors per week.[5] Activities includebird watching and exercise.
A 3.5-kilometre (2.2 mi) paved walking and cycling track encircles the lake. Car parking, playground equipment, and barbecue facilities are also provided.
TheindigenousNoongar people of thesouth-western region of Western Australia call the areaKeiermulu (meaning'home fires','camp'),Lake Galup, andLake Kalup.[1]
After European settlement, it became known asLarge Lake andTriangle Lake (because of its roughly triangular shape) before being namedMonger's Lake in 1831. In April 1932 its name was changed toLake Monger.
On 28 August 2024, theTown of Cambridge voted to change the name of Lake Monger toGalup (Lake Monger), and a request was submitted toLandgate to permanently change the name toGalup.[6][3] On 17 June 2025, Landgate renamed the lake toGalup and the surrounding reserve toGalup Reserve.[4][7]
The lake was originally part of aseries of freshwater wetlands running north from the Swan River along the coastal plain for approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi). Little is known about the use of the lake by the Noongar people prior to British settlement, other than the area was known to be within the area inhabited by them. Given its geographical features, it could have been used regularly as a significant camping and hunting site withblack swans and otherwildfowl as well asturtles,frogs,gilgies and mudfish hunted as food.[citation needed]
Associated with the lake is theWagyl, 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 Galup. 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.[2][failed verification]
In 1829, a British expedition established theSwan River Colony and in 1830, Galup was the site of minor skirmishes between settler and Noongar men, one of which wasMidgegooroo.[8]
After the establishment of the colony, Galup was grouped with Georgiana Lake, Lake Sutherland (both nearMitchell Freeway, near Sutherland andNewcastle streets) andHerdsman Lake, and together the area made up what was known as theGreat Lakes District. European settlement led to many of the wetland 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%[9] and 80%[10] of the wetlands on the coastal plain have been drained, filled or cleared since 1832, leaving Galup and Herdsman Lake as the last two major wetlands remaining close to the CBD.
By 1832, the lands around the lake had been subdivided into eight lots: a southern lot was acquired byJohn Henry Monger Snr and described as "200 acres [81 ha] of Perthshire locationAe abutting" Galup.[This quote needs a citation]William Henry Leeder took up adjoining land grants at Perthshire locationsAc andAd, to which he later added locations1,Ax andAy. This area is now known as the suburb ofLeederville.[11] A site was allocated in 1833 as a "reserve" and food depot for Noongar people, a decision of the government that was sharply rebuked byRobert Menli Lyon.[12]
In 1902, theMunicipality of Leederville appointed a board under the Parks and Reserves Act 1896 to manage the lake.[13] 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.[11][13] This drain still operates today. In 1912, the lake had an area of 111 hectares (270 acres).[8]
In the 1920s, the lake and surrounding areas, mainly to the west and south were still being used as a campsite by Noongar people and providing food.[13] From the early 1920s, the newly formedCity 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, 50 hectares (120 acres) of land had been bought by the council to be developed as part of Galup Reserve.[14]
After many years of delays due to lack of funds, silt dredging works commenced in May 1932 to reclaim 20 hectares (49 acres) of the mainly swampland.[14] By June 1933, 110,000 tonnes (250 million pounds) of silt had been pumped, allowing 4.8 hectares (12 acres) 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 involvingLeederville, 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.[8][13][15] As well as dredging silt, reclamation was assisted by the dumping of rubbish and raw sewage fromnight soil collectors on the north-eastern side. By 1936 the water quality had deteriorated badly and reports of nuisance chironomids (midges) were being made.[16]
Between 1950 and 1964, a 1.8-metre-deep (5.9 ft) sanitary landfill in the north and north-eastern parts of the lake reclaimed further wetlands. This was covered by 60 centimetres (24 in) of clean soil.[17][missing long citation]
In the late 1950s, a comprehensive plan for the lake was drawn up as part ofGordon Stephenson's 1955Plan 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 usingfertilizer containingphosphorus on their lawns. This fertilizer went into drains, polluting the lake. In 2008, heavy rains caused the north west section to flood, creating a smallcove and several small islands andspits.
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.[18]
Galup has been the site of a number of drownings:
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.[36]
A reed island was constructed in the 1960s to provide a summer refuge for birds. Thirty eight species of birds have been sighted includingblack swans,cormorants,spoonbills andpelicans.
The lake also supportssouthwestern snake-necked turtles, largeskinks, and two species offrogs. Fish common to the lake are all introduced species includinggoldfish,carp,mosquito fish andEnglish perch.
Vegetation in the 1800s comprised swampland trees;Melaleuca rhaphiophylla,Banksia littoralis, andEucalyptus rudis.Xanthorrhoea (balga or grasstree), rushes,wattle andtea 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.[37]
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