Prior to European settlement Lake Joondalup provided a rich supply of food as well as inspiration for Noongar spiritual and ritual beliefs and practices, embodied in the ‘Dreaming’.
The original inhabitants of the region were the Oor-dal-kalla people, the family group of Yellagonga, a prominent Aboriginal elder highly regarded in Noongar culture.
Explorer John Butler led the first recorded European excursion into the area now occupied by Wanneroo while searching for lost cattle.
Explorer George Grey accompanied by Mr Smith, Corporal Auger and two Aboriginal men travelled north of Perth and camped near Lake Joondalup.
Surveyor John Septimus Roe, Governor John Hutt and two Aboriginal men travelled north of Perth and recorded exciting discoveries when they explored the caves at Yanchep.
Patrick Marmion sought permission to occupy 10 acres of coastal land to open a whaling station along the coast at Wanneroo.
James Cockman a farmer and dairyman and his wife Mary were the first Europeans to permanently occupy land in the Yellagonga regional Park area.
A group of stockmen including brothers Henry and William Clarkson drove cattle from Margaret River north to near Roebourne along stock route which ran through the Wanneroo area West of Lake Joondalup (Edgewater area).
Wanneroo Road Board received an outline plan for a proposed road running west from Wanneroo Road to the beach from Frank Whitford the managing director of Whitfords Limited. Whitford had recently leased Simpson’s Estate. Whitfords Avenue was later constructed close to this route.
Professor Gordon Stephenson from the University of Liverpool was invited to Western Australia by State Cabinet to advise on town planning for the Perth metropolitan area.