The river's resources were utilised sustainably by the Wurundjeri until the arrival of European colonists in the early-mid-19th century. The park features steep river escarpments, open woodlands, playing fields and golf courses. Whilst the water is not particularly clear, its quality is sufficient for edible fish to swim within it. Did you know: More than one-third of Victorias population lives in the Yarra catchment, which spans about 4000 square kilometres. Yarra Ranges Shire Council Flood information for the Yarra Ranges Shire Council, encompassing local flood guides and a Municipal Flood Emergency Plan. The 3 Mile course ran in the lower reaches, from Twickenham Ferry (now MacRobertson Bridge) to Princes Bridge. Heidelberg formed the home of the Heidelberg School, widely considered the first European painters to accurately capture the Australian landscape and its distinctive features. Upstream of Launching Place the river becomes quite narrow and recreational use is limited. @thesurfingprospector6345. The area in front of old Customs House is a former turning basin for ships. Its up to all of us to play our part to protect this special natural resource for generations to come.. With the Avon, Canning and Helena Rivers as its main tributaries, the Swan river's lower reaches are deep and wide while the upper reaches very shallow and narrow. [14] European explorers would not enter the river for another 30 years until, in 1835, the area that is now central and northern Melbourne was explored by John Batman, a leading member of the Port Phillip Association, who negotiated a transaction for 600,000 acres (2,400km2) of land from eight Wurundjeri elders. From its source in the Yarra Ranges, it flows 242 kilometres (150mi) west through the Yarra Valley which opens out into plains as it winds its way through Greater Melbourne before emptying into Hobsons Bay in northernmost Port Phillip Bay. There is plenty to be had, experts say, but probably not enough for you to quit your day job. Following the course of the river is the 38-kilometre Main Yarra Trail, which stretches from Southbank to the north-eastern suburbs through river flats, sporting ovals, market gardens and paddocks. Don River, Launching Place. On this page: Yarra Ranges Shire Council Flood History Healesville Local Flood Guide Lilydale Local Flood Guide Mooroolbark Local Flood Guide Warburton Local Flood Guide Yarra Glen Local Flood Guide He describes the glacial flour. The Yarra River hosts a wide range of geographical features, perhaps the most plentiful of which are billabongs, of which there are over 100, particularly in the floodplains near Yering, Yarra Glen and Coldstream.Being a considerably thin river for almost its entire length, there are very few islands or lakes.In the middle reaches there are a few rapids of easy to moderate difficulty, however . Stay up to date with what you want to know. Environmental sculptures made from natural materials reflect the islands tranquil setting and make for a great day out. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Sudden dropoffs into deep water can act as great gold traps, and if you find one in a gold-bearing river, there is a great chance that gold has concentrated nearby. However, it still faces a number of challenges: Many community groups and schools are involved in looking after river, but we all have a part to play. Herring Island, an artificial island on the Yarra River is a haven for nature and art lovers alike. EXPLORE THE YARRA RIVER: LA CAMERA. It's still going strong and Sandi pops in to reconnect with this icon of hospitality. Melbourne, Victorias state capital, was established on the lower reaches of the river in 1835. The Yarra River once held the world's largest swimming event, the Race to Prince's Bridge. The new settlement's main port was sited just downstream of Yarra Falls west of modern-day Queen's Bridge, the place where saltwater met freshwater. The river can be used by any member of the public provided they abide by the rules of Parks Victoria who administer the river upstream of Bolte Bridge and the Port of Melbourne Corporation who administer the area downstream of Bolte Bridge. [20][27], In 2015, a facility for washing down cars and chemical containers illegally leaked toxic chemicals and herbicides into Yarra River, killing trees and endangering public safety. By using our site you accept that we use and share cookies and similar technologies with certain approved third parties. The river now compares favourably with many metropolitan rivers overseas. There are easy walks and tracks around this area. Some of the larger parklands adjoining the river include, from downstream to upstream: There are 14 golf courses adjoining the river, these include, from downstream to upstream: The Yarra is considered an important part of Melbourne's culture and a symbol of the city, and as a result, it has been the source of artistic and cultural expression. Stokes River Tributary of Glenelg River. Pack the car and round up your family and friends. Melbourne Water respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai, Taungurung, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which we rely and operate. There are few festivals as big and bold as this one and it is the perfect way to spend a day along the Yarra River. The banks of the Yarra River are popular for cycling, running and walking where most paths are sealed and in good condition. The manna gums grow along the upper reaches and provide food for the koalas. The strong brown, muddy colour of the river is caused by clay soils. Always check for signs of pollution before you swim. On the southern side of the river near exists a number of university and private school rowing clubs who use the river for recreational sports. From Reefton, the river flows through the temperate forests to Warburton. To the Wurundjeri people the river, known as Birrarung, was the life source and an important meeting place. The Yarra River was also the main traffic path for the timers industry during the 1890s, as . While this was not considered a problem in the floodplains near Yarra Glen and Coldstream, the floodings caused much trouble further downstream in settlements such as Warrandyte, Templestowe, Bulleen, Heidelberg and Ivanhoe. In the rivers upper reaches, fishing is most popular. Below is a list of its tributaries (from downstream to upstream):[1], The Yarra River hosts a wide range of geographical features, perhaps the most plentiful of which are billabongs, of which there are over 100, particularly in the floodplains near Yering, Yarra Glen and Coldstream. It hosts a wide range of geographic features including; bends, rapids, lakes, islands, floodplains, billabongs, wetlands, etc. The walking trail features placards displaying some of their paintings at the settings they were actually painted; some features depicted remain clearly recognisable today. To find the specks of gold or even a nugget or two, you will need to the right equipment and keen sense of where to find it. Katherine River. It was feared that dredging would disturb heavy metals and other toxic sediments mostly deposited during Melbourne's industrial era. The area has been occupied by various indigenous clans for at least 30,000 years. A small creek (2-3 m wide) with predominantly fast, shallow water, 10-30 cm deep, gravel substrate. Originally called Birrarung by the Wurundjeri, the current name was mistranslated from another Wurundjeri term in the Boonwurrung language; Yarro-yarro, meaning "ever-flowing".[1][2]. 2. Swamp scrub occurs in permanently wet areas, especially in the catchments south and east. There's also a lot of rubbish in the Yarra near the city. The Yarra had clear water before European settlement but during the industrial revolution in the 19th century, high levels of land clearing and development caused these microscopic clay particles to enter the water, making it the colour it is today. The Yarra River was an important resource for the Wurundjeri people for around 40,000 years. First, Australian explorer John Batman bought approximately 2,400 square kilometers of land surrounding the river from the Wurundjeri people. The plan gives effect to the community's long-term vision for the Yarra and supports collaborative management of the river and its lands. 12:04 - I ask him if there are similarities between the waters in Europe and the stuff over here we're gonna be hitting. In 2007 it was fined A$5,000 for discharging paper pulp into the Yarra from its Alphington plant[25] and in 2008 the company was convicted for releasing oil into the Yarra from its Alphington plant and fined A$80,000. The river's headwaters are located near Mount Baw Baw in Yarra Ranges National Park. River red gums form a tree canopy with a dense understorey of silver wattles, river bottlebrush, prickly currant bush and tree violet. Yarra begins to form an estuarine below the Dights Falls as it flows through the southern side of Melbournes CBD. Herring Island, an artificial island on the Yarra River is a haven for nature and art lovers alike. The lowest section of the Yarra is an estuary, where salt water from Port Phillip Bay travels about 10 kilometres upstream. Go for a wander and see how many you can spot. The final section passes through the Port of Melbourne and under the Bolte Bridge and the West Gate Bridge. Further upstream, the Cremorne Gardens were established in 1853. As the river is never wider than around 350m and is on average only around 50m wide, most of the crossings are located in the suburbs of Greater Melbourne. Gold mining cleared small areas of land of vegetation and for periods of time, drained sections of the river; however, when compared to land clearing and industrial pollutants, the effects of gold mining on the river were quite low. Alphington Grammar School staff and parents lodged more than 200 complaints against Melbourne's Yarra City Council arguing the facility could put the students in danger. Of their contact with local Wurunderi people in 1835, John Wedge wrote:[11]. However, the Aboriginals later denied selling the land to Batman, saying they only permitted him to pass through their land. The Yarra Valley is the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia.The river originates approximately 240 km (150 mi) east of the Melbourne central business district and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay.The name Yarra Valley is used in reference to the upper regions surrounding the Yarra River and generally does not encompass the lower regions including the city . In the 1840s a weir was built at Dights Falls to power a flour mill and to give some control over the river downstream from there. [citation needed], Sections of the river mouth and the area around the former West Melbourne Swamp were widened in the late 19th century, to make way for docks, harbours, bridges and other infrastructure. Known by locals as My Brown Yarra, theres much more to the Yarra River than meets the eye. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. In the middle reaches there are a few rapids of easy to moderate difficulty, however these are sparsely distributed. Board one of the river cruises from Southbank to explore the lower reaches of the Yarra, follow the Capital City Trail on foot or bike, canoe or kayak all or part of its 240-kilometre expanse, or set up for a scenic sunset barbecue or picnic on the banks of the river. The Yarra Riverbank is home to over 20 unique plant communities. [34], The Yarra River has a detailed and complex geological history, see "Geology". [36] Dolphins have been known to venture upstream as far as South Yarra,[37] and serve as an example of the increased salinity of the river's lower reaches. Oils and grease remain today in several tributaries in the lower reaches such as Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds Creek.[22]. The river hosts many geographical features such as; bends, rapids, lakes, islands, floodplains, billabongs and wetlands. [12], A dry period combined with sand bar formation may have dried out the Bay as recently as between 800 BC and 1000 AD, temporarily re-extending the Yarra south to Bass Strait during this period.[13]. Below is a list of the river's geographical features, including tributaries (shown in bold) and man-made features or townships (shown in italics), for bearings (from downstream to upstream):[1]. Sure, it's not really suitable for swimming or drinking, and sometimes it smells funny - but that's what us Melburnians love about it. Stocked near the Yarra River junction in 1999 with Macquarie perch by Native Fish Australia. It is the point which was once known as "Freshwater Place" and once had a set of cascades which prevented both salt water and larger ships from going further upstream. One-third of Victorias animal species are found in the Yarra catchment, including: More than 25 unique vegetation communities make their home along the river and its billabongs, wetlands and swamps: For an in-depth look at plant and animal species you might find, view our wildlife guide: Whether youre into walking, cycling, paddling or socialising, the Yarra has something to offer. Birrarung was the very first name that the indigenous Australians gave it. The Yarra has something for everyone! While the largest flood was recorded was in 1891, which saw the water rise 14 meters high, destroying 200 houses and leaving more than 3,000 people without a home. The Yarra River is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape that includes traditional Country of the Wurundjeri People. Around this area there are submerged mining shafts which can cause undertows that suck swimmers under the surface and into these shafts. Other diversions include The Island cutting in Warrandyte and the Little Peninsula Tunnel and Big Peninsula Tunnel near McMahons Creek. The Yarra River also served as an important irrigation water source for the early European settlers. Was feared that dredging would disturb heavy metals and other toxic sediments mostly deposited during 's... River, known as Birrarung, was the very first name that the indigenous Australians it. River once held the world 's largest swimming event, the Cremorne Gardens established. Floodplains, billabongs and wetlands of silver wattles, river bottlebrush, prickly currant and! The surface and into these shafts known as Birrarung, was established the. 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