The Chipping Norton Lake area was inhabited by the Tharawal and Darug people before European settlement. The land surrounding Georges River was given to Thomas Moore, an early settler and carpenter for the colony. He established farmland around the river. In the 1950s, sand was mined around the lake area. The mining caused irreversible environmental destruction, and the area remained lifeless after the sand was mined. In the late 1970s it was decided to flood the mine, leaving a large lake. Vegetation was planted around the lake to make a wildlife reserve.
Natural environment
There are over fifty different kinds of birds around the lake including pelicans, purple swamphens, egrets, maned ducks, pacific black ducks, sacred ibis, and pardalote; making birdwatching quite popular. The surrounding forests are filled with sedgelands, reeds and mangroves and the other native trees include the swamp oak, forest red gum, blue box, grey box, bangalay and rough barked apple. The alluvial woodland vegetation is another striking feature of the lake as it is an endangered ecological community. The City of Liverpool, City of Canterbury-Bankstown and the City of Fairfield work together to manage the wildlife refuge and recreation areas of Chipping Norton Lake. There are four islands within the lake that serve as wildlife refuges for native birds and visitor access is prohibited. Bull sharks have been sighted in the lake.
Recreation
Chipping Norton Lake has a regional park located on Homestead Avenue, providing cycleways, barbecue facilities, picnic areas, playground equipment, boat ramps, sporting fields and the Georges River Environment Education Centre. There is also a beach in the lake called Grand Flaneur Beach at Homestead Park. Although swimming is permitted at the beach, it is not recommended because of poor water quality. The Chipping Norton Lake also have a number of walkways. Watercraft are permitted on Chipping Norton Lake. however, a strict speed limit of eight knots applies. The Lake also features a community hall that can be hired by residents or community groups for birthday parties, christenings, barmitzvahs, weddings or any other type of function. The hall can accommodate up to 100 people and has an upstairs balcony with views across the lake and surrounding parkland.
Parks
The lake is surrounded by a number of parks, recreational areas and/or reserves: East side:
