It is situated within the Rural City of Swan Hill within the Mallee region of north-west Victoria.

The Wemba-Wemba Indigenous Australian people occupied the lake for thousands of years before the arrival of Major Sir Thomas Mitchell in June 1836.

[5] The southern location was selected because it was considered to be beyond the range of Japanese aircraft advancing on Australia from the north.

The surrounding area is used for agriculture including fruit and vegetable growing and grain production.

[7] Regional water shortage caused by drought resulted in Lake Boga becoming completely dry.