The Coblinine River drops around 25.8m over its 86.9km length. Its source is at a height of 274 m near Katanning and it then flows through Dumbleyung Lake (262m), Gundaring Lake (254m) and into Parkeyerring Lake (248m) near Wagin. The Dongolocking Creek and Carbakine Creek are tributaries of the Coblinine River.[1] These lakes are part of the catchment system of the Goorbillyup (Blackwood River) but as a result of the flat topography, low average rainfall and existence of an extensive network of salt lakes, the eastern creeks and rivers rarely contribute any flows to the Goorbillyup. Most of the basin to the east of the Darling Range is largely an internally drained system where the chain of salt lakes only connect during extreme rainfall events. Lake Dumbleyung is the largest in the Blackwood Basin. This lake was considered to be almost fresh water prior to European settlement but is now saline to highly saline.[2]
Waarnk Dumbleyung
editThe Coblinine river, from its source at Ewlyamartup near Katanning to where it flows through Dumbleyung, is linked to the story of Mulka and his demise. It is believed that the name Ewlyamartup means place of the leg or where Mulkas Leg was placed after he was killed for his crimes at Dumbelyung. Mulka was a Nyungar who was deformed and unable to hunt, so to eat he took children. Mulka was chased to Dumbleyung where he was killed and his body scattered across the region with his stomach forming the rivers course.
COBLININE (RIVER) COBL – IN – NI – NE ... COBL (Object / subject = stomach)... IN (at this location), NI (this / pay attention / listen / take notice), NE (this / pay attention / listen / take notice). One can now interpret the meaning of the place name Coblinine as 'pay attention that the stomach is located here at this site'.
This is the largest open lake in Noongar Boodjar with an area of 52 square kilometres. It is a salt lake in the Great Southern region. The name is thought to be derived from the Aboriginal word ‘Dambeling’ meaning large lake or sea,[3] (although another source suggests it came from 'dumbung', a game played with bent sticks and a hard piece of fruit[source?]).
The town of Dumbleyung has an interprative centre about Donald Campbell’s setting two world speed records in one year. On December 31st 1964, after recently breaking the world land speed record in Lake Eyre in his car Bluebird-Proteus CN7, he broke the world water speed record on Lake Dumbleyung in his jet propelled hydroplane boat, Bluebird K7. With only hours to spare, Campbell famously achieved two world speed records in one year – the first and only time this feat has been achieved.[3]
Dumbleyung also hosts the Wuddi Cultural Centre and Wuddi Aboriginal Cultural Tours.
The Wait-Jen trail, a 10.5 km walking trail, passes by the side of the lake and finishes at Norring Lake to the south west. 'Wait-Jen' means 'emu’s foot print'. The trail follows an ancient Nyitting (Dreaming or Cold Time) track taken by the Wargyl or Wagyl. The trail was opened in 2003 and features interpretive signage and information panels.[4][5]
Ngiyan waarnk - References
edit- ↑ "Map of Coblinine River, WA". bonzle.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019
- ↑ "Shire of Wagin AGRN 743 Surface Trough and Associated Flooding (Jan/Feb 2017) Project Progress Report (May 2018)" (PDF). Shire of Wagin. 2018. p. 25. Retrieved 8 February 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "THINGS TO DO AND SEE: Lake Dumbleyung". Dumbleyung Shire. Retrieved 8 February 2019
- ↑ "Opening of the Wait-jen Trail". 11 May 2003. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 8 February 2019
- ↑ "Landcare News: Friends Of The Wagin Lakes". Shire of Wagin. Retrieved 8 February 2019