Wardering Lake

Statement of Significance

The lake is a significant feature of the landscape. It also is connected with early pioneers.

Physical Description

A small circular shaped lake with a surface area of about 100 acres with depths ranging to 1.3 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 April '99 it was completely dry and the increasing salt encroachment is evident by the masses of dead timber in the swamp.

History

The origin of the name is from the Aboriginal word 'Wardong' (raven) A nearby spring carries the same name. A townsite near the lake was shown on early maps. It was proclaimed a nature reserve in the 1950's being the first waterfowl sanctuary in the State. 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 said to have told 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 incorrect. Pioneers of the Lakes 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. The first settler near Wardering Lake was Sam Roberts who settled on a selection to the north of the lake with his homestead close to the gate on Flagstaff Road. To the east of the lake was Billie Light, who established his renowned vineyard here and to the west and south of Wardering Lake was MHJ (Harold) Douglas. Harold, one of the younger sons of Joe Douglas arrived at the Lakes with his father and brother (Jim) in 1900. Harold named his selection 'Kenmare' after their Victorian farm. Harold helped his parents build a four room house of mud bricks at 'The Lakes' while developing his property which ran from Wardering Lake to Robinson Road. Harold's homestead was at the junction of Reschke and Douglas Roads near where the Kenmare Hall was built (across the road) in 1921. He was an active supporter being Chairman of the Hall Committee from 1922-1932. Harold farmed his property for half a century and retired to Woodanilling. The property was then purchased by Roy Lines, a descendant of Oscar Lines, a commercial grape grower like Harold Douglas. In recent times the property has been sold to Ian and Brian Curnming of Wagin.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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