“Galbamaanup” once echoed through these lands. That was the Noongar name for what we now call Claremont Lake. Before European settlers arrived, this lake was a vital wetland. It teemed with plant and animal life.
Claremont Lake was part of the hunting and food gathering territory. The Mooro people thrived here. Aboriginal families remained until the 1940s. Rising waters and European pressures forced them out. Lake Claremont holds significant Aboriginal heritage.
In 1831, Europeans began to settle here. William Burton Butler received ten acres. He used it for farming and stock grazing. People called the area Butler’s Swamp because of his activities. In 1850, military pensioners from England received land around Butler’s Swamp.
Around 1900, orchards and market gardens flourished. The swamp’s popularity as a picnic spot declined. Rising waters damaged the market gardens. The vegetation changed dramatically. Paper bark trees died because they could not survive the permanent water.
The 1960s brought a dark chapter. Claremont Lake became a rubbish tip. The rubbish filled marshy areas near the water. Later, the council built a golf course. Many worried about the impact on the habitat.
In 2009, residents voted to close the golf course. The Town of Claremont adopted a management plan. The goal was to restore native bush and recreational areas. Now, there is a wetland restoration and revegetation program.
The Noongar people have lived in this region for at least 45000 years. Claremont and Swanbourne sit on Whadjuk land. The Swan River and Claremont Lake were important to them. They were campsites and hunting grounds. The Waugal, or great serpent, features in their stories. The lake provided fish, crabs, water fowl and bush food.
Christopher “Corrie” Bodney was born at Claremont Lake in 1932. He recalled abundant fish and crabs. Even after colonisation in 1829, Noongar people camped here. Tensions arose with colonists over hunting and seasonal fires. They established camps near lakes like Claremont Lake.
Around 1900, Fanny Balbuk Yooreel worked for the Caporn family. The Briggs family allowed Noongar people to camp on their land near Claremont Lake. Robert Bropho’s family camped in Swanbourne from the 1930s to 1950s. Corrie Bodney remembered a free life in the bush.
However, some opposed the camps. In 1898, residents complained about a shelter for Aboriginal people. It was moved to the Claremont Showgrounds. The last camps at Claremont Lake were demolished in 1951. The council felt it was not suitable. Some councillors disagreed.
Today, Claremont Lake remains important to Noongar people. They visit to connect with their country. Lynnette Coomer said it provides a sense of belonging. The Town of Claremont acknowledges the Noongar history. It seeks respectful relationships.
Early colonists farmed the wetlands. They planted crops as water levels dropped. They harvested before winter’s high water. Soldiers who received land were not farmers. They had to learn farming while clearing land. They struggled because they were far from Perth and Fremantle. Some worked away from home. Others sent their wives to town as washerwomen. Most persevered and gained freehold after seven years.
In 1853, a convict depot opened at Freshwater Bay. Convicts built and maintained the Perth to Fremantle road. They also quarried stone for a school. The convicts were generally well behaved. Their road work enabled regular mail service. Mailmen met at the Halfway Tree in Claremont. Sadly, the tree died after severe pruning.
The area was once part of the Perth Roads Board. In 1893, residents elected the Claremont Roads Board. By 1898, the population reached 1700. The Municipality of Claremont formed. James King became the first Mayor.
Early municipal meetings took place in a church. The Municipal Chambers opened in 1899. In 1907, wards were established. In 1961, the municipality became the Town of Claremont. Boundaries and legislation have changed since then.
So, as you stand here by Claremont Lake. Remember its long history. Think of the Noongar people and the early settlers. Consider the challenges and changes it has seen. This lake is a place of natural beauty. It is a place of cultural significance. It is a place with a rich past.