Lake Bonney is the name given to two separate freshwater lakes in South Australia: one in the Riverland region and another in the state's south-east. Both are valued for their scenery, birdlife and recreational opportunities, but they differ in origin, setting and local management. The name appears on maps and tourism material and is used locally to identify distinct ecosystems within the state.

Geography and physical characteristics

The Riverland Lake Bonney lies inland amid low-lying floodplain country and is closely associated with the Murray River corridor. The south-east Lake Bonney sits nearer the coast and is influenced by coastal dunes and groundwater. Both lakes are predominantly fresh to brackish and show seasonal fluctuations in water level and salinity depending on rainfall, evaporation and human water management.

Ecology and uses

Lake Bonney supports a range of wetland plants and attracts waterbirds, making it important for local biodiversity and birdwatching. Recreational activities commonly include boating, fishing, wind- and kite-sports (where conditions allow), camping and informal nature study. Local communities use the lakes for leisure and tourism, and managers sometimes undertake measures to control weeds, algal growth or salinity where needed.

History and cultural context

These lakes have long been part of the broader landscape used by Aboriginal peoples; they later received European place names during nineteenth-century settlement. The two Lake Bonneys are distinct features, each with its own history of settlement, conservation and recreational development.

Notable facts and misconceptions

  • Because the name repeats, it is important to clarify which Lake Bonney is meant in any discussion or travel plan: Riverland or south-east.
  • A folkloric claim sometimes circulates linking the lakes to the traditional song "My Bonnie"; that song is a traditional folk tune and is not about either South Australian lake. For more on the place name see local reference, and for the song's background see My Bonnie.