Lillydale Lake is an artificial lake and wetlands area created in Lilydale

Lilydale, Victoria

Lilydale is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 35 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district situated in the Olinda Creek valley. At the 2006 Census, Lilydale had a population of 13,887...

, Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The park in which it is situated covers over 100 hectares and includes extensive recreational facilities.

The lake covers 28 hectares with a 440 metre long dam wall. There are over 10 kilometres of shared trails, a community room and meeting facilities, a monster playground, toilets, barbecues and a picnic area. A boat launching ramp provides for non-powered boating. There are also two areas where dogs can exercise off leash.

History

Areas of Lilydale

Lilydale

Lilydale may refer to:Australia*Lilydale, Tasmania, a small town in Northern Tasmania*Lilydale, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia**Lilydale railway line, a suburban electric railway in Melbourne, Australia...

 township are low lying and susceptible to flooding from the Olinda Creek

Olinda Creek

Olinda Creek is a major tributary of the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. Its origins are in the Dandenong Ranges, and it is notable for passing through the settlement of Lilydale before joining with the Yarra near Coldstream.....

.

In 1853 surveyor James Blackburn saw the site as a location for a water catchment though the Yan Yean Reservoir

Yan Yean Reservoir

Yan Yean Reservoir is the oldest water supply for the city of Melbourne, Australia. It is built on the Plenty River a tributary of the Yarra River, 30 km north of the city. A 9.5 metre embankment holds back 30,000 megalitres of water...

 was eventually built instead.

The local council proposed a 65 hectare park in 1969 with several more proposals made but due to lack of funds none eventuated. Following floods in September 1984, construction of the lake was proposed to prevent future flooding and provide recreational facilities. Construction began in 1988 and was completed in June 1990. It was officially opened to the public on 7 July 1990.

Local residents often walk, run or cycle around the lake for fitness reasons.

External sources

• Lillydale Lake: History & Development, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Lilydale, Australia
• Lillydale Lake: Park Map, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Lilydale, Australia