Lake Leschenaultia

Statement of Significance

Lake Leschenaultia, which comprises a dam, toilet facilities, restaurant, picnic and camping areas and associated natural bushland, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • the place is the only nineteenth century railway reservoir in Western Australia which has been developed into a recreational area which offers a range of activities and attracts large numbers of visitors from overseas and inter and intra state; • the place was constructed in c.1898 as part of the infrastructure of the Eastern Railway line and supplied water for the trains using this line for nearly fifty years. The Eastern Railway line played an important role in the development of the Eastern Goldfields; • the place was the largest reservoir constructed on the Eastern Railway line; • the presence of a lake set in forest surroundings, has led to the place becoming a popular recreational venue since 1949; and, • the place played an important role in the lives of thousands of local children who learnt to swim in the Lake.

Physical Description

Lake Leschenaultia comprises a dam, toilet facilities, restaurant, picnic and camping areas and associated natural bushland. Lake Leschenaultia lies slightly to the north of the village of Chidlow which is approximately 50 km east of Perth. The Lake is surrounded by regenerating forest and partially cleared land. Four creeks feed into the lake with a fifth creek acting as a feeder for one of the primary creeks. The topography around the Lake itself is comparatively flat, with small valleys and ridges associated with the creek systems in the forest reserve. The main vehicular entry is situated off Rosedale Road on the northern side of the Lake. Pedestrian access is possible at various points along the eastern forest reserve. The main entrance is marked by a small timber framed and clad building (with a zincalum roof), where the Lake entry fee is collected. A bitumen road, with concrete curbs, leads to either the eastern or western sides of the Lake. A gravel road encircles the entire Lake and is used only by the park ranger (gates across this road block public access). This track also serves as the pedestrian nature trail. The main picnic area is located on the eastern side of the Lake together with a camping area. A secondary picnic area is located on the western side. Five artificial beaches have been created on the foreshore of the Lake, the largest in front of the main picnic area and four smaller beaches on the western side of the Lake. The dam wall lies directly opposite the main entrance. It rises approximately l0 metres above ground level. The northern face is a steep incline covered mostly with exotic grasses while jarrah trees have become established on the lower section of the slope. The flat area immediately to the north of the wall is a grassed and equipped with a concrete bar be que and picnic table. A poplar tree (Populus nivra var. italica), this was one of the only exotic tree species noted at the Lake, has been planted at the south eastern side of this grassed area. The southern face of the dam is sealed with widely spaced laterite rocks over which has been laid a facing of cement render. The top of the dam wall is approximately 2.5 metres wide with a low stone wall (laid with roughly dressed laterite stones randomly laid) on the northern side. The top of dam, which is a gravel track, forms part of the nature walk. The overflow for the dam is located at the western end of the dam wall. It is spanned with a steel and timber decked bridge. A timber jetty, which is sited approximately mid-way along the wall, extends out into the lake for about 40 metres. Bitumen roads provide access to picnic areas which are located on the north-eastern and north-western sides of the Lake, with that on the north-eastern side being the main area. This area features 'Stoker's Cafe', which was built in 1962 and originally functioned as tea rooms and care taker's residence. The area in front of the Cafe is covered with grass and shaded with widely spaced jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (Eucalyptus calophylla) trees. Below the picnic area is a white sandy beach with mature jarrah trees (Eucalyptus marginata) near the lake shore. A shed, where Canadian canoes can be hired, is located at the south eastern end of this beach.

History

Assessment 2004 Construction c.1898 Alterations/Additions: 1961, 1989, 1996 Lake Leschenaultia was constructed by the Department of Working Railways and Tramways in c. 1898 to suppl y water for trains using the Eastern Railway. The Eastern Railway was completed by the Western Australian government in 1896 and stretched between Guildford and Coolgardie. The discovery of gold in the eastern districts during the 1880s, while beneficial for the state, had the serious drawback of being in fairly arid zone so that adequate water supplies soon became a problem. This problem was essentially solved with the construction of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme in l 903. However, this scheme was unable to supply the demand made by the steam engines which ran on the Eastern Railway. To solve this problem , a number of reservoirs were constructed at various points along the line. Plans for a reservoir at Chidlow were prepared in l897. The estimated carrying capacity of this dam was estimated at being 118,000,000 gallons; making it the largest reservoir constructed by the Railways Department. As the records make no further reference to the reservoir al Chidlow it has been difficult to determine an exact construction date. However, by 1899, in the annual report to Parliament, the reservoir is listed by the Railways Department as holding 117,000,000 gallons and costi ng £8,803 to construct. Water was fed from the dam to the Chidlow railway platform via a water pipe. The land surrounding the dam was eventually gazetted for water supply purposes in 1901. Salinity problems with the water led to the construction of drainage ditches and an extensive planting programme during the first quarter of the twentieth century. However, over time, the problem appears to have increased and the reservoir ceased to be used as a mai n water supply source by the Department. Eventually, by 1947, the Railways Department agreed to lease the site to the Mundaring Roads Board for recreational purposes. A portion of the reserve was leased to the Board for 21 years and in 1949 the dam was officially named Lake Leschenaultia . The area immediately became popular with local residents and the Board began to supply facilities. Toilets were initially provided. The Shire of Mundaring secured a grant in 1961 to construct better facilities at the site and this resulted i n the construction of a single building which operated as tea rooms with care taker facilities at the rear. Over the years further facilities have been added to the area including trout fishing during the 1970s. Boating continues to be a popular feature on the Lake, although fishing is no longer available. The regenerating bushland has also led to the development of walk and bike trails and the area has become a popular bird watching venue. In 1997, Lake Leschenaultia was placed on the Shire of Mundaring's Municipal Inventory. In 2004, the site continues to be used for publi c recreation purposes.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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