Lake Charm

About Lake Charm

Location

Lake Charm is one of a group of shallow natural lakes situated between Kerang and Swan Hill.

History

Since the late 1880s Lake Charm has been used as an irrigation carrier as an appendage to the system.  In 1969 a regulator was placed across the inlet to control inflows.   In later years a pump station and outlet channel were constructed to pump saline waters from Lake Charm.

The off river storage project originally began as the Lake Boga Storage Project and it quickly became apparent that this was not going to provide enough storage.  Further studies then included Kangaroo Lake and then Lake Charm and it became the Mid Murray Storage Project.  It then enlarged to become the Victorian Mid Murray Storages (VMMS), which also included Kow Swamp.

Interesting Information

Lake Charm has strong links to the indigenous community and the Lake takes its name from a former local indigenous tribal Chief, Chief Cham.  It was thought that the “r” was left out and it became known as Lake Charm.  There is some conjecture over the naming of Lake Charm and there are a number of theories.  It went on to become a thriving community with a hotel called the Kangaroo Inn (Scantleton’s Hotel) built as a changing station for Cobb and Co.  Lake Charm also boasted a railway station which in its heyday in 1942-43 dispatched more cases of citrus fruit than any other station in Victoria.  Labour intensive salt harvesting began in 1880 and has been modernised and continued on by the fourth generation of the same family.

Further to the previously acknowledged books, “Between the Rivers” and “Tresco Estate”, two other publications which provide further history particularly of Lake Charm are “Lake Charm Reflections” and the “Lake Charm Mechanics’ Institute – the First One Hundred Years – 1891 – 1991”.

Operations

Now as part of the VMMS, the operating range for Lake Charm under normal conditions is 73.0 to 73.92 metres AHD.  During times of drought or floods this range may not be achievable.  The proposed operating range is the design operating range of the lake Charm flushing pumps.  While the maximum and minimum operating levels will be unchanged, the lake will experience greater seasonal fluctuation in water levels.

Recreation and Tourism at Lake Charm

Facilities Available

Large Grassed Area

Car Parking

Boat Ramp

Playground Equipment

Fishing

Camping

BBQ - Woodfired