Lake Richmond, Heritage lake in Rockingham, Australia.
Lake Richmond is a freshwater lake in Rockingham, Western Australia, measuring about 1,000 by 600 metres and covering 40 hectares, with a central depth of 15 metres. It lies less than a kilometre from the coast at Cockburn Sound and is part of Rockingham Lakes Regional Park. A boardwalk extends roughly 115 metres into the lake.
The lake formed about 4000 years ago when coastal changes separated it from Cockburn Sound, creating an isolated freshwater system. This separation led to the development of a distinct aquatic environment over centuries.
Lake Richmond is known to the Noongar as Naragebup and was a source of fresh water for them before settlers of the Swan River Colony also drew on it. In 1996 the Western Australian Museum identified structures in the lake as likely pre-colonial tidal weirs for fish traps, prompting the Djeran Fish Festival; a later review concluded a local resident built them between the early 1960s and early 1980s.
The Anne Mueller Environmental Walk loops around the lake for about 3 kilometers with entry points at multiple road access areas. Wear sturdy footwear and come prepared for changing weather conditions typical of coastal areas.
Thrombolites lie in the shallow water within about 15 metres of the lake's edge and are estimated to be around six million years old. Their internal structure is believed to be unique in the world. The lake is also listed on the WA Register of Aboriginal Sites as RAS #15974.
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