Discovered by Joseph Hawdon on March 12th 1838, Lake Bonney was once known as “Nookamka”. Hawdon, being the first European overlander through the vicinity, re-named the inland lake after his friend Charles Bonney.
Following the discovery, Lake Bonney became a sought after destination as the overlanders, whilst using “Stony Pinch Track” stopped to water their stock enroute between Ral Ral and Wentworth.
It soon became apparent that a place providing lodging and refreshment was required, and in 1859 William Parnell commenced the building of the hotel then known as “Lake Bonney Hotel”.
In 1863 William Napper purchased the hotel along with 80 hectares of land where he established an orchard consisting of vines and fruit trees near the present Napper's Bridge site. He used a steam engine to pump water for his orchard and so became the first irrigator in the Upper Murray Region.
Lake Bonney was plagued with problems in the early 1900's, suffering both drought and severe flooding.
A bridge was built at Chambers Creek entrance with work beginning during the drought of 1915. At this time, Lake Bonney dried up almost completely resulting in locals farming cereal crops on the dry lake bed. The bridge, then known as North Lake Bridge consisted of moveable panels which acted as a weir, controlling water into or out the lake thus protecting these crops. However, August saw the river rise and the crops were inundated with water during the flood of 1916.
While building the northern approach to the bridge, the bones of hundreds of natives were unearthed and went into structure. Built of timber retrieved from flats of Cobdogla, the bridge survived until it was replaced in 1953 with a sturdier concrete structure known as Napper's Bridge. This bridge was opened in 1954 and inundated during the floods of 1956.
The first irrigation pump was installed at the south end of Lake Bonney during 1914. The drought was followed by a flood in 1916 and the plant, placed in a flood zone, was saved by the rushed building of an encircling wall which is still present today.
This resulted in a larger unit being built in 1920 on higher ground in what is now the Yacht Club building. Both these pumps were wood fired steam units, which supplied irrigation water to the Cobdogla region. With fluctuating water levels and high salinity becoming a problem the plant was closed in 1927 and moved to Loveday.
The inclusion of “Lock 3” into the Murray River system resulted in a stable Lake Bonney with the average pool level being 139 feet above sea level. The raised water level had altered the wetlands ecosystem. The water is deeper, cooler and slower, and the annual rise and fall has largely gone with adverse effects on the wildlife. Native fish and waterfowl are no longer subject to natural breeding conditions. It has also caused the death of many Red Gums.
September 21 date for refill
The initial 26 gigalitre (GL) refill of Lake Bonney is expected to begin in less than two weeks.
Culverts are being installed through the earthen embankment at Nappers Bridge, and Lake Bonney Management Committee chairman Mike Fuller expects water to start flowing back into the lake on September 21.
Mr. Fuller predicted it would take around three months for the full 26GL to be returned to the lake.
“The culverts are designed to convey water in the initial stages of a flow somewhere around 530 megalitres a day” he said.
“But on average the flow rate would come down to 400Ml because as the water rises in the lake the flow rate reduces.
“It's anticipated it will take 12 weeks to get the 26GL into the lake- it'll average out a flow rate of 400 ML a day”.
Mr. Fuller said after the 26GL had been returned it was estimated the lake would be at a depth of 9.7 AHD (Australian Height Datum), just below its “normal” depth of 9.8 AHD.
For further information please contact us.
