The Wetlands Centre Cockburn

Australian Spotted Crake - Lake Bibra. — Australian Spotted Crake – Lake Bibra.

Established in 1993, the Centre is an independent, not-for-profit, community organisation dedicated to wetlands, restoration activities, environmental education, youth services & facility hire. Numerous volunteers implement the Centre’s activities along with the assistance of a small band of dedicated staff.

The Centre lies in the suburb of Bibra Lake, 15 km south of Perth, Western Australia. It provides a gateway to the Beeliar Regional Park, which consists of two parallel chains of wetlands including 27 different wetlands.

The original inhabitants of the area were Aboriginal people of the Beeliar group, and their area extended south from the Swan and Canning Rivers. They were one of the first groups to suffer from European settlement and many of their traditions were lost during this period.

Bibra and North Lakes have been recognised as significant areas of Aboriginal heritage and were known as Walliabup and Coolbellup respectively. Numerous Aboriginal campsites have been documented adjacent to the lakes. The Aboriginal people maintain strong links with the area and the Waalitj Corporation is actively involved onsite.

European Settlement

George Robb took up one of the first land grants of 2,000 acres during 1830. The current name, Bibra Lake, was named after Benedict Von Bibra, a carpenter who selected 320 acres of fertile land fringing the lake during 1843. Later owners used the fertile areas adjacent to the lake for market gardening and dairy herds.

Seasonally changing water levels resulted in the high grounds being planted with wheat or oats during the winter months and the low grounds with maize or other vegetables as the waters receded during the summer months.