Little Murapin (Lake)

Statement of Significance

The lake is a significant feature of the landscape and is very important as a habitat for water
foul. It also is connected with early pioneers.

Physical Description

A small circular shaped lake with a surface area of 70 acres. Depth varies to a maximum of
1.5 metres.

It is part of a chain of lakes which when they overflow discharges water into the ill defined
east branch of the Beaufort River. When inspected in May 2000 it contained some water
where as the adjacent Murapin and Martinup lakes were dry. The tree lined banks are mixed
eucalypts compared with the casuarinas surrounding Murapin.

History

The name refers to the comparative size to the adjacent larger Murapin Lake.

The land west of the railway line between Lime Lake and Round Pool had not been thought
worthy of selection by the WA Land Company agents when they picked the best land for the
company along the railway at the time of its construction in the 1880's. Tom Cornwall,
owner of the Beaufort and Queerearrup Stations, was quoted as telling the Douglas brothers
when they were working for him in 1895 that no other land in the area apart from
Queerearrup and the Beaufort would ever be taken up as it was too poor. However, the
efforts of the pioneers and subsequent generations has proved this judgement incorrect.

Pioneers of this area were the Douglas family. Joe Douglas and his five sons all selected
land, built homesteads and farmed in the Lakes country - stretching east from Harry's
selection ('Dowlering'), Jim ('Miripin' - Murapin Lake), George ('Grandfather Swamp' near
Queerearrup Lake), Harold ('Kenmare' near hall), Joe ('The Lakes') and Archie ('Little
Kojonolokan' - later 'Adadale['). In addition, their relatives - brothers Linley, Arch and
Rene Thompson; and friend Sammy Roberts were other pioneers in the area.

Land to the south and north east had been selected by Sam Roberts who had arrived with the
Douglas boys from SA and was doing very well until the rabbits 'ate him out'. In 1924 he
had about 4000 sheep, but by the 1930's he was forced to reduce his numbers to about 1000
due to the competition. Coinciding with the rabbit plague came the depression and Roberts
was fairly heavily committed having taken over George and Jim Douglas' land as well as
buying land from LHW Thompson. However his plight received little sympathy from the
bank and he was forced to sell 'Wardering' in February 1936. By this time it comprised over
6500 acres of which 3500 were cleared (mostly brumby cleared).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.