Dog Swamp

Dog swamp's history traces back to 1870 when a lithograph showed the name ‘Native Dog Swamp’. The Aboriginal name for this area was "Beebeenup" which means "hollow between two rises".

Dog Swamp was a recognized landmark along Wanneroo Road in the 1900s, being the next landmark leaving Balcatta Hotel travelling north. During the winter season the swamp would cause significant damage to Wanneroo Road, making it very difficult to travel along. It wasn’t until the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage broad was able to control the rise and fall of Dog Swamp that maintenance of Wanneroo Road became easier. 

A newspaper clipping from 1962 shows the proposed conversion of the swamp into a lake with surrounding landscaped lawns and gardens, with the proposed lake to be a compensating basin.

Dog Swamp is now occupied by a lake which sits on the Dog Swamp Reserve, a drainage basin and Dog Swamp Shopping Centre.