Trout Ponds

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic, Representativeness and Scientific

Physical Description

• A series of troughs inside the main building for the earliest stages
of the hatching process;
• Outside , a series of holding ponds, some under cover, for the
larger trout;
• These are monitored and cleaned regularly, and;
• Remains of the original 1936 ponds still evident.

History

Trout were first introduced into Western Australian rivers in the
Pemberton area after 1931 by C A (Sticky) Glew, headmaster of
Pemberton School. 10,000 ova were donated by the Victorian Fisheries
Department. Unfortunately the first batch hatched prematurely on the
journey, but a second attempt was successful and 20,000 ova were
hatched at the back of the Pemberton School House in water from the
unreliable town water supply. Probably 12,000 to 15,000 reached the fry
stage and were planted in local waters. There was little evidence of
success. However, in 1936 a large trout was reported in a pool in a pool
in the East Brook. In that same year under the auspices of the Fish and
Game Society of Perth, 100,000 brown and rainbow ova were brought
from Ballarat, and hatched at the experimental station which had been set
up at Big Brook. A series of holding ponds had been built for the
purpose. The 60,000 survivors were released in Pemberton and
elsewhere.
It soon became evident that ova would need to be obtained a different
way. A trapping and breeding programme was set up successfully in the
1940s. Water was drawn from the Hydro Electric Power Scheme for a
modern hatchery funded by the State Government. Further holding
ponds were built and the water supply and temperature was carefully
regulated and monitored. The process of hatching and then holding the
hatchlings until they grew into fingerlings, then yearlings was
scientifically managed. Selecting and raising brood stock was an
important part of the process.
More than fifty years later the Trout Hatchery at Pemberton has played a
vital role in distributing trout to many other rivers in Western Australia ,
including Gingin, Albany, Denmark, Bridgetown, Capel and Pinjarra,
among others. The hatchery also supply fingerlings for commercial trout
farms and tourist facilities.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Good
Authenticity: Good

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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