| Lake Guthridge | |
|---|---|
 The shores of Lake Guthridge from Foster Street | |
  Lake Guthridge | |
| Location | Sale, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 38°6′45″S147°4′30″E / 38.11250°S 147.07500°E |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 850 m (2,790 ft) |
| Max. width | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Surface area | 0.25 km2 (0.097 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Water volume | 325 megalitres (263 acre⋅ft) |
Lake Guthridge is a small artificial lake in Sale, Victoria, Australia. [1] It is named after the first mayor of Sale, Nehemiah Guthridge.
In 1850, the area of the lake on the south side of Sale was a low-lying wetland, and had been used for drainage and sewerage discharges. [2] Guthridge suggested converting it into a lake to supply the town's growing population. The wetland area was developed as a lake in 1884. [3] Its sister, Lake Guyatt acts as overflow. It is however described as an ornamental lake. [4]
There is a 2.37 km-long (1.47 mi) accessible walking track around the perimeter of the lake. The area is known as a bird-watching site, where diverse native and migratory species can be seen. [5] Royal spoonbills were recorded breeding around the lake in 2016 and 2019, joined by yellow-billed spoonbills and Australian white ibis in 2020. [6]
The lake contains rainbow trout, and in 2016 it was planned to stock the lake with Australian bass as part of an initiative to increase recreational fishing opportunities in Gippsland. [7] In 2025, the Victorian Fisheries Authority restocked the lake with 800 rainbow trout and 5,000 bass. [8]
