1954 - The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) Planning Scheme zoned the area
around the Lake as public open space but it was still owned by the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society.
During the 1960's,
high intensity and often incompatible uses of the Lake, including speed-boating, water-skiing, illegal rubbish dumping,
canoeing, yachting, fishing and open-fired barbecuing began to threaten the fragile
environment. Sensitive vegetation along the lake fringe, which provides vitally important
habitat for wildlife, was destroyed in many parts.
1964 - The Adult
Deaf Society sold 13.4 ha, including the lake and some surrounding bushland, to the MMBW; and Camberwell Grammar purchased
6.5ha of land east of the Lake.
