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Our History

1992

The original Yellagonga nursery was founded on a small block on Winton Road. The land was donated by Department of Lands and Administration, the park’s original managers of the park. The original Duck Landing site was also founded, on the eastern side of Lake Goolellal, and was used as a small dam cut from the lake itself.

 

FOY Logo

Dr. Mike Bamford, one of the founding members of Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park, sketched the initial logo shortly after the park was officially established. While Mike’s task was to depict a “pair of ducks,” Mike went beyond that and included background buildings to emphasize the park’s location thriving within a suburban setting. This addition highlights one of the park’s notable strengths.

1996

Friends of Yellagonga received a grant through the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program to undertake revegetation at the southern end of Lake Goolellal, in an area called Chain of Diamonds. Using this grant, we removed Lantana, Canna Lillys, Pepper Trees, and Castor Oil bushes, none of which were native to the area.

1998

Many original members had left by this point, with only two members remaining. But still, we pressed on, and founded the Ocean Reef site on a cleared paddock. Originally Flooded Gums and Paperbark woodland, this began a long journey towards revegetating the site.

(If we skip ahead a few years, it’s now been revegetated also include Tuart, Marri, Jarrah, and Banksia woodland, and is on track to becoming a Black Cockatoo feeding area.)

2003

We were proud to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. Members past and present joined us to mark the occasion, sharing stories of where we’d come from, and looking at the future ahead.

2005

A drama unfolded on the world stage. With more access to the DNA of plants, scientists were discovering that many existing species and genus weren’t what they originally thought. This happened to our very own Wattle tree, with the genus Acacia. We played our part, and Friends of Yellagonga sent a letter of support to the International Botanic Congress for Australia to retain the name ‘Acacia’. Australia ultimately won the right to the name, and we like to believe we played a part in it.

2006

We received the Award for Environmental Excellence from the City of Wanneroo. This award was accepted on our behalf by our Chair, Will Carstairs.

2010

We installed bat boxes all around Yellagonga Regional Park. Hand-made by our very own Jim Treloar, many of these are still in operation today.

2015

We developed partnerships with Greening Australia (WA), Shell Australia, and BHP-Billiton, who all held workdays in Yellagonga Regional Park.

We saw some of our hard work come to fruition, with two of our sites, Bindaree Terrace and Hocking Road, reaching maturity and getting officially handed back to the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

2017

We received a $50,000 grant from Jessica Stojkovski MLA to help with our Floating Islands project, and a grant from Emily Hamilton MLA to make 14 owl boxes that were erected in strategic places around the park.

2018

We celebrated our 25th Anniversary in style, with a certificate of appreciation from the Mayor of Joondalup, Albert Jacob, and a $2,000 grant.

2019

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions granted us funding to install nine cockatubes through Yellagonga Regional park. We also held a major planting event in conjunction with Greening Australia at what’s now our Tanah Close site.

2023

5th of December – At the 2023 Volunteer Award ceremony held by the Parks Wildlife Service and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, three dedicated FOY volunteers were honoured with Outstanding Service Awards.

From left to right:
Jan Richards takes on responsibilities in site management and coordinates volunteers during workdays.

David Taggart, a member of the FOY committee since the beginning in 1992, received recognition for his longstanding commitment.

Sue Walker, known for her tireless efforts enhancing workdays with delightful morning teas.

Now

With plenty of experience to guide us, and a growing base of passionate volunteers, we’re excited to see what the future holds for Yellagonga Regional Park.

The traditional owners of Yellagonga

At Friends of Yellagonga, we acknowledge that the land we love is Mooro land, on Whadjuk Noongar country.

Named after Yellagonga, the leader of the Mooro clan at the time of European arrival, we’re doing what we can to help support the traditional practices originally established by the Mooro people and ensure their land continues to thrive.

A time of displacement

The Mooro people nurtured this land for thousands of years, living around the lakes and wetlands that make up the area. They moved with the seasons, caring for the land to ensure its stability and growth.

When European settlement came to the area in 1829, the traditional owners were displaced, forcefully pushed out of their homelands. Much traditional knowledge and culture was lost, and it ushered in a sorrowful time.

The uncomfortable history of this land, and the long-lasting impact it has had on the traditional owners, is something that we need to recognise; to remember, and learn from.

At Friends of Yellagonga we’re committed to helping care for the land, and ensure the rich history of the flora and fauna can live on.

Forming the park

In 1955, the land that makes up the Regional Park was identified to be used as regional open space. However, it wasn’t until 1983 that a report by the Environmental Protection Authority identified the area as having conservational value. The Park was named Yellagonga Regional Park in 1990. Since then, much work has been done to replace the knowledge and practices lost, and help reintroduce a way to care for the land.

Growing for the future

We acknowledge that there’s a lot of work to be done. So at Friends of Yellagonga, we pledge to help the lands of the Mooro people thrive; to do what we can to help preserve the natural beauty and long history, and the significant Noongar sites within the Regional Park.