Pumby Brush Walk

The lagoon

This lagoon is a naturally-occurring water hole. It was important to both Aboriginal people and European settlers as it provides a permanent source of fresh water for humans and animals.

Weeping willows and poplars were planted by Europeans in the nineteenth century. These trees have been left on this end of the lagoon to show the types of plants early settlers preferred. In other parts of Australia willows have become significant environmental weeds.

On the other side of the driveway, areas of native vegetation remain. These remnants are being expanded to line Webbers Creek. The small flats are rich alluvial soil from which much of the wealth of Tocal was created. The flats are being farmed as they have been for the past 180 years.

Below: photo of Tocal lagoon taken in the early 1900s. At bottom, photo taken in 2003.

photo of Tocal lagoon in the early 1900s

Walk the walk: you can walk along Pumby Brush walk when Tocal Homestead is open to the public (Homestead admission fee applies) - opening details.