Blackwall Reach (''Jenalup'' in
Noongar
The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the so ...
) is a
section
Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea
* Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents
** Section sig ...
of the
Swan River in
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
.
Blackwall Reach was named after an area of the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
near
Greenwich
Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
UK in 1896 by Commander L. S. Dawson RN, Admiralty Surveyor. The name originally referred to that part of the river, rather than either side, but this changed in the twentieth century when the riverside land on the eastern bank just south of
Point Walter
Point Walter (Noongar: ''Dyoondalup'') is a point on the Swan River, Western Australia, notable for its large sandbar that extends into the river. It is located on the southern shore of Melville Water, and forms its western end. Point Walter ...
was specifically called Blackwall Reach. It contains limestone cliffs, and remnant vegetation adjacent to the river's edge.
The location is a popular spot for
cliff jumping
Cliff jumping is jumping off a cliff as a form of sport. When done without equipment, it may be also known as tombstoning. It forms part of the sport of coastal exploration or "coasteering". When performed with a parachute, it is known as BASE ju ...
and for
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
. However, since the creation and management of the clifftop reserve, signage advises against jumping. Non-adherence to this signage has resulted in fatalities.
Due to its location close to the ocean, unusual fish catches have sometimes occurred.
Prior to European settlement, the area was known to the
Noongar
The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the so ...
indigenous people as ''Jenalup'', a sacred place linked to the
Dreaming stories.
Notes
Further reading
* ''Landscaping project for the reserve'' – 'About Melville', Mar 1993, p. 2.
* Dickson, Rod (1994) ''Ships registered in Western Australia from 1856'', Vol. 4, p. 32 concerning ''Molly – history of the barge'' a 66-ton barge that collided under tow with barge "Emerald" adjacent to Blackwall Reach on 16 April 1928.
External links
Blackwall Reach''Climbing Association of Western Australia''
''Perth's Best Kept Secrets.''''3rd Degree'',
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public university in Western Australia. It is named in honour of the first woman to be elected to an Parliaments of the Australian states and territories, Australian parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Aust ...
Journal.
{{coord, -32.0184, 115.7855, format=dms, display=title
Swan River (Western Australia)
Places of Noongar significance
Bicton, Western Australia