Lake Gwelup

Lake Gwelup is situated on Mooro Country, a region that extends from Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) to Yanchep and inland to Ellenbrook. Nyoongar people report that the chain of lakes is fed by an underground water system created by the Waugal (the Rainbow Serpent) and these lakes extend along Mooro Country.

This seasonal chain of lakes holds special significance for the Wadjak Nyoongar people, who would migrate from coastal areas to inland wetlands in winter and spring. It was also a place of important cultural practices, such as birthing and ceremonial dance. There are four registered Aboriginal sites at the Lake, with a campsite on the northwest edge and an ancient ceremonial site, and more than 1,000 Aboriginal artefacts have been found in the area.

The name “Gwelup” was derived from the Aboriginal word “Gwelgannow”, which is believed to mean “to shift position”. Hence, Lake Gwelup was referred to as “the lake that shifts position”. The name first appears in Lands Department records in 1878 as “Gwelup Swamp”. Other sources suggest the name is derived from the from the Aboriginal name "Kwilup" which is the place of the ‘Kwilim bird’ or ‘Coot.’

In the 1870s, Chinese growers leased the swamplands around the lake and employed local Nyoongar people to work on their market gardens in exchange for produce. European migrants moved into the area after World War I and established market gardens, before residential development took off in 1970. Despite the dramatic urban transformation and the loss of many wetland areas across Perth, the lake and surrounding bushland remain.

The Reserve was finally vested to the City of Stirling in 1999 for the purpose of conservation, landscape protection and recreation. A series of Management Plans have since been adopted by Council in 2006 and 2015 following extensive public consultation.

In 2024, the Lake Gwelup Story Trail was created in partnership with the City of Stirling, the Rotary Club of Karrinyup, the Nyoongar community, local cultural associations and wildlife groups. The Story Trail captures stories of Lake Gwelup to share the area’s rich history, culture and biodiversity with the community. 

The stories of the lake stretch back tens of thousands of years, from hunting and gathering in ancient times to market gardening by Chinese and European migrants. The Lake Gwelup Story Trail is a way we can preserve those stories and promote the cultural and environmental value of the wetlands.

Lake Gwelup is an A-Class reserve, which is bounded by Wanstead Street, Lagonda Drive, North Beach Road, Segrave Street and Huntriss Road in Gwelup.

It includes areas protected under the Bushland Forever Policy; these areas were selected as they offer unique biodiversity on the Swan Coastal Plain.

Lake Gwelup Reserve is a 75-hectare multi-purpose reserve consisting of wetland, bushland and recreation parkland. The reserve is further divided into three separate areas, two conservation area and one recreational area.

The City of Stirling has an environmental management plan for the reserve, and Friends of Lake Gwelup assist in the care of the bushland. 

The lake is a popular destination for walkers and nature-lovers, featuring pedestrian pathways, a viewing platform, and the Lake Gwelup Story Trail.