“Monger's Lake, near Leederville, is one of the few large sheets of water in the neighbourhood of the city of Perth. A project to surround the lake with a drive and to otherwise improve it has frequently been discussed by the Leederville Council, but funds being lacking, the lake remains very much as before. On the shore of the lake, visible in the distance, is Glendalough, the Roman Catholic industrial school, to which the neglected children of the State whose parents are adherents of the creed named are sent, and when they are taught to be useful members of society.”

“settlement of certain wild and unoccupied lands on the western coast of New Holland and the islands adjacent which are known by the name of Western Australia”.  

“In the first public act of the Government, the protection of the law was extended to the Native Tribes, and they were at once recognised as British subjects. It was long before any intercourse took place between them and the settlers, but when they became emboldened by degrees, to frequent the farms and habitations of the whites, it was obvious enough, from their propensity to theft and their frequent necessities, that quarrels and hostilities would happen between the two races….the [colonists] knew that their own welfare depended on avoiding hostilities; and it is due to them to state that their conduct, as a body, has been marked throughout by an anxious desire to avoid, on their invasion of this territory, every necessary injury to its earlier inhabitants…and establish and regulate, upon general principles of mutual benefit, the future intercourse between the invaders and the invaded.” 

“Galup, Monger's lake, to this place, Yellowgonga removed his headquarters, after the formation of the settlement...”

“Ngal'goong'a placed his spring, and his favourite camp at the disposal of the jan'ga, and betook himself and his people and few household goods-comprising his spare bookas (skin cloaks), weapons, flint implements, etc.—to Wil'gee-garup (red ochre pit), somewhere near Monger's Lake. It was at Gooninin'nup, therefore, that the very first white camp was pitched in 1829.”

By June 1829, sixty-nine colonists arrived aboard the Parmelia under Captain James Stirling (later to become Governor of the small colony) and by December of the same year, there were 652 British settlers recorded in the colony (Hallam and Tilbrook 1990, p. xiv). Nyungar moort or family of boordier Midgeegoroo moved to Karlup or what is now known as Lake Monger, three kilometres to the north of their traditional beelya karla or river camping grounds around the Darbal Beelya estuary in the river... [p 31]. Nyungar believe that... territories north and east of the Swan River belonged to boordier Yellagonga and his moort, or people, who camped mainly around Karlup or Lake Monger and, to the east, the beelya or Helena River divided boordier Munday’s and boordier Weeip’s boodjar or territories... [This was] not a part of Midgegooroo’s land, although he and his son, Yagan, had access to Lake Monger and the Helena River by moortung or kinship. [Collard, 2004, p 43] 

“One young man, Johnny Corrall – a name my grandfather gave him – used to come regularly to chop wood for my mother, and he helped me by telling me lots of things about wild animals and the bush. He died in the seventies (1870s) and was buried in the native burying ground in a sandhill on the northwest side of Leederville. I am unable to locate this burying ground exactly today the whole suburb is now thickly built over” 

(Hammond 1933: 11)

Reference:

Department of Planning, Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System,  Site S00787 (File 04322 Franklin Street) 

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Inquiry System (dplh.wa.gov.au)

Colonial Frontier Massacres in Australia, 1788-1930

 ‘The Natives – have been very troublesome in Perth since I wrote and in a skirmish with a strong party, who were evidently determined upon mischief – several of the detachment 63rd Regt were wounded with spears – the report says – (for it was impossible to ascertain the fact) that thirty or forty of the natives were kill’d or wounded. (John Morgan, Swan River Papers, Vol 6, p 73 cited in Carter, 2005, p 69.) 

"Having occasion to be in Perth a few day's on business, and influenced by that feeling, which has ever prompted me to take an interest in the welfare of the Natives, I wished to employ as many leisurely mornings as I had to spare, in going out to Monger's lake to see the bread distributed and to embrace the opportunity of conversing with them... No one, be his prejudices and antipathies what they may, can if he pause to think, object to the humane act of giving a few rations for a time, to a people whom we have despoiled of their country ; and every virtuous mind will approve of discouraging their coming into the towns, where in addition to their native vices, their intercourse with the lower orders of society, will impart to them all the moral deformity of the vices which have been imported from Europe….I would take the liberty of suggesting to Capt. Ellis, if report speaks truly, the impropriety of allowing Yagan to distribute the bread. The propriety of allowing any of the natives to do this at present is perhaps questionable. But the conferring this honor upon Yagan is a gross insult to Yellowgonga, who is the leading Chief on this side of the water. By the by it is reported that the distribution of rations to the natives is to be shortly stopped. I trust the local Government will not again endanger the properties and lives of settlers by discontinuing this just and humane practice."

“On Thursday last Mr. Dale proceeded to Monger's Lake, in company with Mr. Smythe and the two Natives of King George’s Sound, Manyat and Gyallepert, in consequence of a wish to see the latter understood to have been expressed by Yegan and others of his tribe. Shortly after arriving at the Lake, Yegan and about ten of his tribe, made their appearance well armed, and welcomed their visitors in an apparently cordial manner. A Corrobbary was danced; followed by an interchange of names and spears —the Dialects of either party was perfectly unintelligible to the others, and they seemed to apprehend each others meaning in some few instances rather from gestures than language : however their mutual attempts at conversation were persevered in throught the interview. Something like a trial of skill in throwing the spear took place between Galleypert and Yegan; No woman was visible on this occasion. The interview continued for about four hours, and on departing, Manyat and Gyallepert received an invitation from Yegan to meet him again in the same spot on the following morning; which however circumstances prevented. The purport of their conversation, if so it may be termed, is understood to have been (chiefly on the side of Manyat and his companion) a description of their native District, a detail of the kind treatment and benefit they had received from the "White people," and an exhortation to Yegan and his followers to conduct themselves in a peaceable and friendly manner towards their white neighbours. (On the side of Yegan) a seeming adoption of his visitors into his own tribe, by exchange of names, description of his late imprisonment and escape, and the nature of their connection with their white associates.”  

TO BE LET OR SOLD, VALUABLE GRANT of 200 Acres of well-timbered LAND, situate on Monger's Lake, which, from its contiguity to Perth, is well adapted for a Dairy or Stock Farm, and particularly eligible for the Timber and Sawyer's Business, for which every facility exists in covered Pits, Stores, &c. A comfortable Dwelling House, Stock Yard, and enclosed Garden.  Apply to J. H. Monger, Mount Eliza.

INSTITUTION FOR NATIVES, ELIZA BAY. Report, of the proceedings at this Institution during the month of January, 1836.  “The others stated that the white lad, Henry Leeder, was always threatening them ; that he would get the soldiers and police to come and shoot them ; and, moreover, he was in the habit of being on too familiar terms with the natives, and hoped that I would speak to him earnestly on the subject….  I spoke to him, as they had requested me, and, after telling him of the folly of taking the least liberty with them, and particularly with their women and girls, and advising him on no account to do it again or allow them to him, and that if he would send me word of anything that might occur, however trifling, I would immediately go out and look into it, and if necessary complain to the proper authorities, I left them, the natives promising to get their frogs, lower down the lake, away from Mr. Leeder's house and garden.  

The harvesting of root tubers in this area was probably the birthright of Yangan and her female kin.. who likely looked upon the potatoes as any other root tuber in the area (Hallam 1992: 8). 

In the same year [1833] both Migo and Dommera became ill. This was the first serious outbreak of measles in the colony. Medical treatment was sent to Migo where he was camped at Lake Monger with his mother and her husband, Marungo. His illness worsened, and he was brought into the Perth settlement on horseback for further medical attention, at that time including bleeding and cupping as standard medical practice. [p 20]