Bibra Lake, Western Australia

Bibra Lake is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia; it takes its name from the extensive freshwater lake within its boundaries, Bibra Lake. It is located within the City of Cockburn and its postcode is 6163.

Bibra Lake
Perth, Western Australia
Coordinates32°05′57″S 115°49′07″E
Population5,892 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1967
Postcode(s)6163
Area12.8 km2 (4.9 sq mi)[2]
Location20 km (12 mi) from Perth
LGA(s)City of Cockburn
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Fremantle
Suburbs around Bibra Lake:
Hamilton Hill North Lake Leeming
Spearwood Bibra Lake Jandakot
Lake Coogee Yangebup South Lake

History

The existence of the lake was first reported by Augustus Gregory during a survey of George Robb's land in May 1842. Gregory recorded the Aboriginal name of the lake as Walubup. During the following year, Benedict von Bibra, surveying his own selection on the southern shores of the lake, recorded the name as Walliabup and the latter version was used exclusively on maps for more than half a century.[3]

Benedict von Bibra

In the summer of 1843, Benedict von Bibra (son of Franz Ludwig von Bibra) bought land at the edge of a wide depression to use as a camping place to shorten the trip between his two carpentry businesses in Perth and Fremantle. He apparently assessed from the stringybark trees that the basin would become a lake in winter of a depth of seven to eight feet. He proved correct.[4]

In 1877, it was found the von Bibra's association with Lake Walliabup was apparently still recalled by locals who referred to the feature as Bibra's Lake. This alternative name was added to plans and, in 1967, adopted in place of the Aboriginal name. In 1898 Bibra Lake was reserved for recreation and all applications to lease land were strenuously opposed by the Fremantle District Roads Board, which was given control of the reserve in 1902. Tearooms were erected and the Reserve became a popular venue for picnics and sports gatherings.[5]

AWAS Camp
Main article: Bibra Lake AWAS Camp

During World War II, there was a battery attached to the 66 Searchlight stationed at Bibra Lake, along with the regimental headquarters of the 116 Light Anti-Aircraft. This was the base for many women who served in the Australian Women's Army Service, performing important home defence duties to free up more men for front line fighting. The camp was dismantled immediately after the end of the war, and all its buildings and materials sold at auction. The camp was rediscovered in 2015 by members of the community, and was threatened by the proposed Roe Highway extension.[6]

Facilities

The majority of the suburb, which is not part of the Beeliar Regional Park contains a major light industrial area, with businesses such as Amcor.

Bibra Lake is the location for several major private recreation facilities, including Adventure World theme park, a bungee jumping tower, Cockburn Ice Arena, paintball and laser tag operations. Bibra Lake also has a Waldorf school and a Montessori primary school.

The manufacturing facilities and headquarters for OKA Australia are in Bibra Lake.

WA Wildlife

WA Wildlife, operated by Native Arc Inc, is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in the Beeliar Wetlands near Bibra Lake. It has a purpose-built hospital to care for the animals, with intensive care unit facilities to care for animal that would have previously been euthanised.[7] WA Wildlife is part of group of organisations helping to protect the nests of the snake-necked turtle that breed around Bibra Lake. In 2020 it was estimated that 25 of the hatchlings were able to make it to the safety of the lake.[8] Native Arc Inc is a registered charity, number 21503, licensed under the Charitable Collections Act 1946.[9]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bibra Lake (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: Bibra Lake (State Suburb)". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. "History of metropolitan suburb names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
  4. The Von Bibra Story Lois Nyman and Graeme von Bibra, November 1996, Foot & Playsted Pty Ltd., Launceston ISBN 0-9597188-1-8
  5. Cockburn: The Making of a Community Michael Berson, 1978, Town of Cockburn, ISBN 0-9596533-0-9
  6. "Push to save army camp ruins from Perth highway extension". ABC News. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. "New animal hospital a game changer". Community News. 15 April 2021.
  8. "Nesting turtles need our help". Community News. Perthnow. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  9. "Welcome to Native ARC Inc". Native ARC Inc. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

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