Two centuries of water level records at Lake George, NSW, Australia

The year 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of European settlers first encountering the 'noble expanse of water' of Lake George in New South Wales. Since 1820, unofficial observations and official measurements of the lake's water level have been recorded almost continuously by various individuals, research teams, government departments and private companies. The lake's recent hydrographic history has been characterised by periods of flood and drought, which correspond with the prevailing rainfall conditions of SE Australia. This is the longest water level record of its sort in the Southern Hemisphere and hence of great scientific and historic value. Here, we have compiled all available historic water level data for Lake George, referenced them to common datums and presented a methodology for continuing the record using satellite imagery in lieu of on-site measurements.