Location | Collins Road, Thompson Road, Canning River |
Reserve Number | ? |
Assessment Number | Many Numbers |
Dieback Treatment | ? |
Planting |
Many extra planting days have been organised by AGLG. 22 Jul 2007-National Tree Day Roleybushcare with AGLG |
Fire Burn | Uncontolled (firebug) fire in pool area Jan 1997 |
Data |
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Weeding |
Submitted by Paul Mutton Feb 2010 Blackberry: Cotton bush: |
History |
Submitted by Rachel Hogg. |
Reserve Custodian |
Paul Mutton |
Comments |
Submitted by Paul Mutton The Roleystone Hills area contains many great bush reserves, but a real gem among them is the Roley Pool Reserve. This reserve follows the Canning River along the steep sided Canning Valley for two kilometres between Heritage Drive and the Soldiers Road Bridge. The reserve contains a thriving colony of Quendas (Western Brown Bandicoots), as well as Brushtail possums, Western Grey Kangaroos, and if you are lucky you may even see a native Water Rat which can usually be distinguished by a white tip to its tail. The water is home to at least four native species of fish: Western Minnow, Pygmy Perch, Nightfish, and Freshwater Cobbler, as well as the introduced Mosquito fish and Carp. These feed on the native glass shrimp that can be seen in the shallows, as well as gilgies and juvenile marron. The core of the reserve is the Roley Pool itself, which is a pretty natural pool that is accessed by steps from Collins Road. This is the original Roleystone swimming hole, and was a popular swimming place for Roleystone residents from the early 1900's. In its heyday in the 1920's, Bert Collins would spent every Saturday afternoon teaching young people swimming and lifesaving at the pool which in those days was provisioned with change rooms and a fine diving board. For many many years it was the summer social scene not only for Roleystone residents but for the wider community. At the beginning of summer each year there would be community members taking out the rocks that had been rolled into the pools during the winter flow plus other debris therefore making it safe for all to swim in during the summer season. Now the river and its banks have changed a lot from the days of Bert Collins swimming classes. The construction of the Canning Dam in 1940 moderated the natural winter floodwaters and the damming of adjacent tributaries and springs which naturally kept the water flowing all summer. Although it still retains a magic charm, the deep Roley Pool has now filled with sediments to waist height. The last time the river flooded during winter was in 1974, the last year that the Canning Dam overflowed. Since the damming of the last major tributary springs in the late 1980's the only water source the river has to maintain its summer flow is a staged release by the Water Corporation of treated Perth drinking water which is released through a pipe in the Araluen Botanic Park. The natural vegetation along the banks became very badly degraded over the years due to infestations of weeds such as bamboo, blackberry, and Watsonia. In the 1990's, the beauty of the area and its degradation prompted the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group (AGLG) to take up the restoration of the reserve in partnership with the City of Armadale and the Swan River Trust and it became their key project area. This work continues to this day, as the group works its way along the banks removing infestations of introduced weeds and replanting the area with a diverse mix of native plants. The reserve needs more help from volunteers to restore and encourage the native vegetation and fauna, maintain walking trails, and generally care for the reserve. If you are interested in helping maintain and improve this reserve by participation during activity days during the year, have some good ideas for the reserve, or even know of some more old history (including Aboriginal history) please contact Paul Mutton on 0400521184. |
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This reserve was the original project area for the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group who have been actively planting and removing weeds since 1998. Other groups such as Friends of Roley Pool and Roleybushcare are also active in the area.
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Small waterfalls at the western end of the large pool![]() |
Eastern end of Roley Pool with remains of old diving board in forground (imagine diving in now!) |
This disused pipeline that crosses the Canning River used to supply the Perth metropolitan area. |
Majestic native white Wandoo trees feature in the reserve and are uncommon elsewhere around Roleystone. ![]() |
Western end of Roley Pool |