Lake Jasper, Western Australia

Lake Jasper
Western Australia
Map
Coordinates34°24′S 115°40′E / 34.40°S 115.67°E / -34.40; 115.67
Population27 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)6260
Area275.7 km2 (106.4 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Nannup
State electorate(s)Warren-Blackwood
Federal division(s)O'Connor
Localities around Lake Jasper:
Scott River East Peerabeelup Peerabeelup
Scott River East Lake Jasper Yeagarup
Southern Ocean

Lake Jasper is a rural locality of the Shire of Nannup in the South West region of Western Australia. Central within the locality lies the lake of the same name while, in the south, it borders the Southern Ocean. A large part of the locality is taken up by the D'Entrecasteaux National Park; its south-eastern border runs along the Donnelly River.[2][3] The north of Lake Jasper is taken up by agriculture, among them the large dairy farms of Lactanz 1 and 4, while Lactanz 2 and 3 are in the neighbouring locality of Scott River East.[4] Lactanz Dairy was Western Australia's largest dairy producer when it was sold for A$30 million in 2016 to Australian Agribusiness Group.[5]

Lake Jasper and the Shire of Nannup are located on the traditional land of the Bibulman and Wardandi people of the Noongar nation.[6][7][8] Scientific evidence proves a Noongar presence in the South West region for at least 47,000 years, while the oldest evidence for presence in the D'Entrecasteaux National Park dates back 6,000 years.[9]

The heritage listed Black Point on the Southern Ocean coast is located with the locality of Lake Jasper, an outcrop of the Bunbury Basalt, which is rarely exposed. It is an important scientific research site,[10] and dates back to 135 million years ago, when it was formed by a volcanic lava flow.[9]

The historic Jangardup Stock Route originally started in the north of the locality on the route heading north to what is now the Vasse Highway. It was last used as a stock route in the mid-1960s.[11] The heritage listed Quannup House, dating as far back as 1864, is also within the locality.[12]

Access to the locality and the lake has been historically difficult and underdeveloped. A 1944 newspaper report complained that to get to the lake for the purpose of exploring its potential to stock trout, a round trip of 100 miles (160 km) and a 2 miles (3.2 km) track through swamp had to be made, despite the fact that it was only 28 miles (45 km) from Pemberton.[13] Roads in the coastal region, especially within the national park, are still often four-wheel drive only and closed in winter because of rain.[9]

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Lake Jasper (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  3. ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Lactanz, Dairies South-West Western Australia". www.cbre.com.au. CBRE Group. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  5. ^ Matthew Cranston (27 June 2016). "AAG buys distressed WA dairy farm Lactanz for $30 million". www.afr.com. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Map of Indigenous Australia". aiatsis.gov.au. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Catalog of Australian Aboriginal Tribes". www.samuseum.sa.gov.au. South Australian Museum. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Welcome to the Shire of Nannup". www.nannup.wa.gov.au. Shire of Nannup. Retrieved 26 July 2024. The Shire of Nannup acknowledges the Wardandi and Bibbulmun people as the native title holders of the lands and waters in and around Nannup
  9. ^ a b c "Explore parks WA: Black Point". exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Black Point". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Jangardup Stock Route & Stock Camp - Post & Rail Stockyard". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Quannup House". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Jasper Lake", Manjimup and Warren Times, 29 March 1944, retrieved 26 July 2024