Lake Ballard is an ephemeral salt lake about 18 kilometres north of Menzies.

The lake was originally named Lake Princeps, presumably after Henry Charles Prinsep (1844-1922), by S.G. Hubbe (1848-1900) or Henry John Cant, in 1896. In 1897 Surveyor G.D. Robinson mistook the lake as being a continuation of Lake Barlee and it wasn’t until subsequent surveys that it was confirmed as a separate lake.

The lake received its current name in 1957 after Robert Ballard, Manager of the Menzies Mining Corporation Limited.

Lake Ballard is a bleak and desolate spot. If it’s your overnight destination you haven’t being trying hard enough to find the best possible campsite.

It’s main claim to fame is an underwhelming display of 51 steel sculptures by artist Antony Gormley, erected over ten square kilometres of the white salt of the lake.

The artwork/sculptures are said to represent residents of Menzies.  They  were transported from the foundry in Perth to Lake Ballard and installed by a team of 18 volunteers over a four day period. Wonderful if that’s your thing. Is it worth the 780 kilometre drive from Perth? Or even the 51 kilometre drive from Menzies?

 

The reports of the various trips, tours and travels on the Adventures website have a lot of information about place names – their naming and features – toponymy. More information.

© Kim Epton 2014-2024
254 words, two photographs.

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