Yalgorup

Yalgorup National Park is a 13,205-hectare protected area on the Swan Coastal Plain south of Mandurah, protecting a chain of coastal lakes, wetlands, and banksia woodland. The park is internationally significant for its living stromatolites in Lake Clifton — the largest known living stromatolite colony in the southern hemisphere, built by cyanobacteria in a process that has been occurring for 3.5 billion years. Yalgorup is listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. The park is managed by DBCA.

Yalgorup supports significant waterbird diversity across its lake chain — over 100 species recorded, including pelicans, herons, spoonbills, and numerous migratory shorebirds. The park is on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory waders. Western grey kangaroos, brush wallabies, quendas, and echidnas inhabit the banksia woodland. Carnaby's black-cockatoos forage in the banksia woodland. The lakes support short-necked turtles (Chelodina oblonga). The banded stilt breeds at Lake Clifton in good seasons.

Banksia woodland (Banksia attenuata, B. menziesii, B. ilicifolia) covers elevated sand rises surrounding the lakes. Wetland vegetation around the lakes includes paperbarks (Melaleuca rhaphiophylla), sedges, and rushes. Lake Clifton's stromatolite colony occupies the calcareous shallows. The park's high-moisture wetland habitats support diverse aquatic and riparian plant communities. Several Declared Rare Flora species occur.

The Yalgorup lakes occupy a chain of deflation basins in Quaternary aeolian sand deposits on the Swan Coastal Plain. Lake Clifton is underlain by Tamala Limestone (Pleistocene calcareous dune), creating alkaline water chemistry that enables stromatolite growth. The lake-chain geography reflects former sand dune systems. The stromatolites in Lake Clifton are biogenic structures — built up over thousands of years by photosynthetic cyanobacterial mats trapping and binding carbonate sediment.

Mediterranean climate. Annual rainfall 700–800 mm. Lake water levels fluctuate with seasonal rainfall and groundwater connectivity. Lake Clifton is a groundwater-lake — its water level reflects the coastal groundwater table. Declining groundwater from reduced winter rainfall and extraction is a serious management concern.

Yalgorup lies within Bindjareb Noongar country. The lake chain was an important seasonal resource for Noongar people, providing freshwater, fish, waterbirds, and plant foods. The Mandurah-Preston Beach area was settled for farming and recreational use from the late nineteenth century.

Yalgorup National Park was proclaimed to protect the internationally significant wetland and stromatolite system. The park was listed under the Ramsar Convention in 1990. DBCA manages the park with water quality monitoring and visitor management at Lake Clifton.

Lake Clifton Stromatolite boardwalk — a 500-metre boardwalk over the lake allowing close viewing of living stromatolite structures, 3.5-billion-year-old life forms. The interpretive boards explain the significance of stromatolites in Earth's evolutionary history. Birdwatching at multiple lake viewpoints. Banksia woodland wildflower walks.

Located on the Old Coast Road south of Mandurah. The Lake Clifton boardwalk is approximately 90 km from Perth. Car park, boardwalk, and toilets at Lake Clifton. Free entry. Mandurah provides full visitor services.

Lake Clifton groundwater decline is the most critical threat to the stromatolite community — insufficient water coverage causes the stromatolites to dry out and die. Declining Gnangara-Yalgorup groundwater mound levels from reduced winter rainfall and urban groundwater extraction are the primary cause. The Tuart Forest threatened ecological community is present at the park margins. Invasive weeds and fox predation require ongoing management.