Big Carine Swamp

Aboriginal people believe that the Waugyl, a rainbow serpent from the dreaming, created the wetlands and the waterways which form a major part of the Swan Coastal Plain. A recognised dreaming track or “cultural complex” includes Herdsman Lake, Lake Gwelup, Lake Karrinyup, Lake Carine and all the swamps, creeks and wetlands in between.

Big Carine swamp is located on land that was part of the 20 hectare Carine Homestead purchased by Alfred Okely from Edward Hamersley in 1871.

The land was passed down through three generations of the Okely family, with James Milne Okely's homestead and orchard on the site in the 1920s.

The swamp is part of Carine Regional Open Space.