A review by felicitylouise
Blue Lake: finding Dudley Flats and the West Melbourne Swamp by David Sornig

5.0

I pass through the place that David Sornig calls “the Zone” every day, travelling from Footscray to the city. It’s mysterious and impenetrable, occupied by railway yards and port operations, waterways overshadowed by concrete flyovers. The gateway to the west. When it rains heavily, Dynon Road floods, a reminder that the Zone was once a swamp. Blue Lake is a fascinating and detailed history of this area post-European settlement, which remains obscure to most despite its close proximity to the city. Sornig traces the lives of its inhabitants, who dwelled on the margins of the city and of society. A brilliant read.