I found Newport Lakes!! See blogpost Walk No 3
A mild and sunny day I headed off down Mason Street telling myself I had never seen the signs to the Lakes and that's because I found there isn't one!
But I had noticed the entry rock area but been driving so didn't look too hard.
Its about 8 minutes drive from home and recently had lot of work done on the carpark and trails
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| There were mosaic signs all along the trail |
Like other parks in the area they are the site of old Quarries (Bluestone) so have been filled and planted by volunteer Friends
European settlers called this area 'Goose Flats'. The area became part of the Parish of Cut Paw Paw (Love the name)
records from 1868-9 first record the property as a quarry and as occupied by Doherty. William Hall leased one acre of the property to James Horsley, quarryman and carrier, as a stone quarry for seven years from June 1869 for one hundred pounds per annum paid monthly. This arrangement carried on into the 1880's.
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| The beautiful day made for some great reflections |
After WW1, there were three quarrying companies. Consolidated Quarries operated the largest quarry in the north-west hole, now called the North-West Plain
In 1968, the quarry was considered 'worked out' again and, after negotiations the land use zoning was changed from light industrial to public open space.
Pavey's Hole operated as a tip from 1975 until around 1982. In 1977, the Johnston Street edge of the area and the south-eastern corner were planted with trees.
The former quarries were left with vertical cliff faces and a child of four and a 40-year old mentally disabled man fell to their deaths from the cliffs at the north-western edge in the early 1980s.
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trees along the trail
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| The huge stepping stones across the 2 lakes |
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| Creating the stepping stone in 1992 |
The first Friends group formed in 1984, until 1987, as an action group to stop The City of Williamstown plans to turn the northern lake into a tip. "regional refuse disposal facility"
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| Ducks |
Between 1992-5, Maarten Hulzebosch planned the current reserve (he later worked with Werribee Open Range Zoo). He drained the lakes and made them shallower, about three metres
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| Ducks and coots |
In 2001, HBCC released its plans for the widened and improved park entrance for completion in 2003. Andrew Webster became the Ranger. Susie Inglis, Ranger, held the first City of Hobsons Bay Friends Field Day.The FoNL bird trail and leaflet was launched. HBCC launched its own trail and leaflet as well. The Friends ran a VUT Work for the Dole Program building paths in Pavey's Park.
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beautiful reflections
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| Bull rushes along the waters edge |
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| Not sure what the white duck is! |
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