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This section of the route takes in Smith’s Lake, one of the City’s most beautiful and tranquil parks as well as one of Western Australia’s most historic sporting facilities.
Originally a lake named Danjanberup covered the area that today is Charles Veryard Reserve and Smith’s Lake (see former wetlands map). From the 1920s the lake was progressively drained with much of the reclaimed land being used for market gardening. Regeneration of the natural flora around Smith's Lake began in 1999; it is now the ideal place to see birdlife in a natural, undisturbed setting.
The environment changes dramatically as you move along the trail, passing by typical Vincent residential housing before entering Beatty Park Reserve – sports oval lined with Moreton Bay fig trees. The west end of the reserve is home to the Beatty Park Leisure Centre.
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playground |
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- Smith's Lake Map (0.2MB)
- Wetlands Heritage Trail Map (2.0MB)
- The Trees of Vincent Wetlands (1.5MB)
- The Birds of Vincent Wetlands (0.7MB)
Originally much larger than the current lake, Smith’s Lake was named Danjanberup by the Aboriginal community. The Claise Brook drain was extended to the lake in the 1920s, reducing the surface water. The land was used for market gardening. The Gooey family of Albert Street were well-known Chinese market gardeners in the area for many years until their land was resumed by the Perth City Council in 1959. The Council decided to drain the swamp and convert it into land for building and recreational use. The reclamation was achieved by using the area as a rubbish dump for many years. In the 1960s the land was filled and subdivided. Part of the land was developed as a recreation reserve, named after Charles Veryard, a Perth City Councillor from 1927 to 1964 and Mayor of Perth from 1964 to his death in 1967.
Smith’s Lake has recently been changed from a concrete and lawn-edged lake back to a more natural setting, with fringing vegetation of entirely local species of plants. This is to provide habitat for frogs and invertebrates and nesting sites for water birds.
More information is available on the Vincent Heritage Website.
For further information download A Short History of Smith’s Lake (PDF, 3.15MB).
