The Beeliar Wetlands is rich in Aboriginal and non-Indigenous history. This rich history affords the area special protection under Local, State and Commonwealth legislation, and it is important that any proposal for the Roe Highway Extension avoids, minimises or mitigates any negative impacts on the cultural heritage of the area.

Aboriginal Heritage

Coolbellup and Walliabup are the Aboriginal names for North Lake and Bibra Lake. Available information suggests that these wetland areas were a major camping ground for the Beeliar Aboriginals, as food and other resources were readily available.

The Eastern Beeliar chain of wetlands formed part of a major trade route between Aboriginal people in the Swan and Murray River areas and archaeological evidence indicates that campsites have been located in the vicinity of the lakes for a period in the order of 5000 years or more (Polglaze, 1986).

As well as historically being a major camping ground and trade route, the wetlands have spiritual significance to Aboriginal people. According to Nyungar tradition, the wetlands were formed by the Waugal. The Waugal is the dreaming ancestor and water-creative spiritual force with serpent-like physical manifestation; it inhabits North and Bibra Lakes and maintains the flow of the springs (Drake and Kennealy, 1995).

Non-Indigenous Heritage

There has been a connection between European settlers and the Bibra/North Lake wetlands dating back to the early years of the Swan River Colony. George Robb and Bennedict Von Bibra were early settlers to the area, taking up large land grants in 1830 and 1843 respectively.

Spurred on by the gold rush, extensive agricultural development occurred by 1890. Chinese market gardens, orchards, vineyards and dairies occupied the arable land surrounding North and Bibra Lakes. By 1919, many of the market gardens had been replaced by dairy farms. In 1940 suburban development began to encroach into the area, and between 1970 and 1980 had replaced agricultural land uses.