Valley Lake (South Australia)

Body of water

Valley Lake

Panorama of the Valley Lake in 2016

Valley Lake

Location in South Australia

Location| Mount Gambier, South Australia
Coordinates| 37°50′25″S 140°46′1″E﻿ / ﻿37.84028°S 140.76694°E﻿ / -37.84028; 140.76694Coordinates: 37°50′25″S 140°46′1″E﻿ / ﻿37.84028°S 140.76694°E﻿ / -37.84028; 140.76694
Type| Monomictic Volcanic crater lake
Basin countries| Australia
Surface area| 26 ha (64 acres)[1]
Islands| None
Settlements| None

The Valley Lake is a monomictic volcanic crater lake in the Australian state of South Australia situated in the south of Mount Gambier, near the Blue Lake. The Lake is surrounded by a park situated on Davidson Drive. The shore of the lake features a children's playground, sporting facilities, BBQs and toilets. There is also a Conservation Park, as well as Centenary Tower at the top of the surrounding crater.[2]

## History[edit]

Centenary Tower (2013)

When Mount Gambier was first discovered in 1839 by Stephen Henty of Portland, the Valley Lake and the Blue Lake were considered a good source of water for future settlers.[3]

The foundation stone for the Centenary Tower was laid on 3 December 1900 (to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sighting and naming of Mount Gambier), and was officially opened in 1904. The tower sits 190 meters above sea level, and its opening hours are signified by a flag flown above the tower. At night the tower is lit up and can be viewed from the city.[4]

On 26 February 1954 Queen Elizabeth II visited the Valley Lake as part of her Australian tour. A plaque commemorating this visit was placed at the Valley Lake Lookout in 1977.[5]

The Valley Lake Conservation Park operates within the Valley Lake park. The Park is home to a number of indigenous flora and fauna species. It also features lookouts, a beautiful boardwalk and a number of nature walks, and entry is free.[6]

## See also[edit]

* Blue Lake (South Australia)
* Mount Gambier, South Australia

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Map of Valley Lake in South Australia showing Mount Gambier (highlighted in purple) - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia". Bonzle. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
2. ^ "Mount Gambier Valley Lake Crater - South Australia". Mount Gambier Point. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
3. ^ City of Mount Gambier (2013). Mount Gambier Visitor Guide (16 ed.). The Lady Nelson. p. 42.
4. ^ City of Mount Gambier (2016). Mount Gambier Visitor Guide (17 ed.). p. 5.
5. ^ "Stones, Plaques & Memorials - Lakes Area of Mount Gambier, South Australia". South East Family History Group. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
6. ^ "Valley Lake Conservation Park & Boardwalk - Mount Gambier". Mount Gambier Point. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Limestone Coast, South Australia

Cities|

* Mount Gambier

Towns and localities|

* Allendale East
* Beachport
* Bordertown
* Cape Jaffa
* Carpenter Rocks
* Coonawarra
* Donovans
* Furner
* Glencoe
* Greenways
* Kalangadoo
* Kingston SE
* Keith
* Kongorong
* Lucindale
* Millicent
* Moorak
* Mount Benson
* Mount Burr
* Mundulla
* Nangwarry
* Naracoorte
* OB Flat
* Padthaway
* Penola
* Port MacDonnell
* Rendelsham
* Robe
* Southend
* Tantanoola
* Tarpeena
* Wandilo
* Wolseley
* Wrattonbully
* Yahl

Governance|

| Federal division|

* Division of Barker

|

State electoral districts|

* Electoral district of MacKillop
* Electoral district of Mount Gambier

Local Government|

* City of Mount Gambier
* District Council of Grant
* District Council of Robe
* Kingston District Council
* Naracoorte Lucindale Council
* Tatiara District Council
* Wattle Range Council

Hills, mountains and volcanoes|

* Mount Benson
* Mount Gambier
* Mount Schank

Caves, sinkholes and freshwater lakes|

* Blanche Cave
* Blue Lake
* Cave Gardens
* Engelbrecht
* Ewens Ponds
* Fossil Cave
* Lake Bonney SE
* Little Blue Lake
* Piccaninnie Ponds
* Valley Lake

Islands|

* Baudin Rocks
* Penguin

Coastal features|

* Cape Banks
* Cape Jaffa
* Cape Northumberland
* Discovery Bay (part only)
* Guichen Bay
* Lacepede Bay
* Margaret Brock Reef
* Rivoli Bay

Protected areas|

| National parks|

* Canunda
* Coorong (southern end only)
* Naracoorte Caves

|

Conservation parks|

* Aberdour
* Baudin Rocks
* Bangham
* Beachport
* Belt Hill
* Big Heath
* Butchers Gap
* Calectasia
* Carpenter Rocks
* Christmas Rocks
* Custon
* Desert Camp
* Dingley Dell
* Douglas Point
* Ewens Ponds
* Fairview
* Furner
* Geegeela
* Glen Roy
* Gower
* Grass Tree
* Guichen Bay
* Gum Lagoon
* Hacks Lagoon
* Hanson Scrub
* Jip Jip
* Kungari
* Lake Frome
* Lake Hawdon South
* Lake St Clair
* Little Dip
* Lower Glenelg River
* Mary Seymour
* Mount Monster
* Mount Scott
* Mullinger Swamp
* Nene Valley
* Ngarkat
* Padthaway
* Paranki Lagoon
* Penambol
* Penguin Island
* Penola
* Piccaninnie Ponds
* Pine Hill Soak
* Reedy Creek
* Talapar
* Tantanoola Caves
* Telford Scrub
* Tilley Swamp
* Vivigani Ardune
* Woakwine
* Wolseley Common

Game reserves|

* Bool Lagoon
* Bucks Lake
* Lake Robe
* Poocher Swamp

Conservation reserves|

* Desert Camp
* Bernouilli
* Hardings Springs

Marine parks|

* Upper South East
* Lower South East

Related and uncategorised|

* Limestone Coast zone
* Coonawarra
* Mount Benson
* Mount Gambier
* Robe
* Padthaway
* Wrattonbully

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