Rowles Lagoon

Rowles Lagoon Conservation Park is a 6,785-hectare conservation reserve in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located near Broad Arrow north of Kalgoorlie. The park centres on Rowles Lagoon — a significant inland wetland within the semi-arid Goldfields landscape. Inland wetlands in the Goldfields are critical waterbird habitats, attracting colonial breeding waterbirds in favourable years. The park is managed by DBCA.

Rowles Lagoon is one of the most significant inland waterbird breeding sites in the Goldfields. In wet years, large colonies of pelicans, royal spoonbills, yellow-billed spoonbills, great egrets, nankeen night herons, and cormorants breed on islands within the lake. Brolgas and black swans also use the lagoon. The surrounding woodland supports western grey kangaroos, red kangaroos, emus, echidnas, malleefowl, and the full suite of semi-arid bird species. Reptile diversity is high on surrounding lateritic plains.

Gimlet (E. salubris) and salmon gum (E. salmonophloia) woodland borders the lagoon on red loam soils. The lagoon shoreline supports samphire (Tecticornia) communities and halophytic shrubs. Aquatic vegetation includes submerged macrophytes in fresh conditions. The surrounding sandplains support mallee-heath with diverse spring wildflowers including everlastings.

The Goldfields overlies the Yilgarn Craton. Rowles Lagoon occupies a topographic depression in the broadly flat landscape, accumulating water from the catchment in wet years. The lagoon bottom is likely covered by lacustrine clay and organic sediments. Salt lake chemistry varies depending on rainfall inputs and evaporation rates.

Semi-arid Mediterranean climate with annual rainfall of 250–300 mm. Highly variable rainfall creates boom-bust cycles in the lagoon's water levels and associated waterbird activity. Wet years following above-average winter rainfall trigger colonial waterbird breeding events.

Rowles Lagoon lies within Ngadju Noongar country. The lagoon and its surrounds were important seasonal gathering places for Aboriginal people, attracting them when waterbirds bred and the lake held water. The Goldfields gold rush from the 1890s brought European settlement. The Broad Arrow area was an active goldfield.

Rowles Lagoon Conservation Park was reserved to protect the significant waterbird habitat. The park is recognised as one of the Goldfields' most important wetlands for colonial waterbird breeding. DBCA manages the reserve in conjunction with surrounding pastoral and mining lands.

Birdwatching at the lagoon — particularly spectacular in wet years with active breeding colonies. Bush walks through gimlet woodland. Spring wildflower observation. The historic Broad Arrow townsite (a ghost town from the gold rush era) is nearby.

Located north of Kalgoorlie, accessible via the Broad Arrow Road. Minimal facilities. Free entry. Kalgoorlie-Boulder provides full visitor services.

The lagoon's waterbird values depend on sufficient rainfall to fill the lagoon — climate change reducing Goldfields rainfall is a long-term threat. Invasive weeds including buffel grass alter the lagoon's surrounding vegetation. Feral goats and sheep overgraze lakeside vegetation. Feral cats and foxes affect ground-nesting waterbirds.