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. Tourists can also relax and enjoy in the cruises in this area. The park features steep river escarpments, open woodlands, playing fields and golf courses. Elemental to Melbournes identity, the Yarra River is one of Victorias iconic waterways. 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. It hosts a wide range of geographic features including; bends, rapids, lakes, islands, floodplains, billabongs, wetlands, etc. Two major off-road, sealed trails, the Yarra River Trail and Capital City Trail follow the river on its course through the city, while part of the Bayside Trail also connects with the river. [31][32] The Yarra Riverkeeper Association or YRKA for short view the Yarra River as Melbourne's greatest natural asset and educate that its preservation and restoration is vital in helping Melbourne become a sustainable city. The area has been occupied by various indigenous clans for at least 30,000 years. "Gazetteer of Australia Place Name Search", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_the_Yarra_River&oldid=1137384069, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 09:57. The Yarra River crosses an enormous range of habitats from pristine forested catchments, to a range of agricultural lands and onto dense urban areas: The stretch of the Yarra River between Warburton and Warrandyte has been identified as a Victorian Heritage River. The river flows into Port Phillip, the site being extensively altered as part of the Port of Melbourne, Australia's busiest seaport. Thanks to an abundance of native plants and water supply, the wildlife in and around the Yarra River is highly diverse. Agriculture and industrial development takes place in the middle and lower portions. The river that runs upside-down: The Yarra River is often referred to as the upside-down river because of its brown colour. In a town without sewerage or waste disposal, the formerly pristine Yarra soon became one of the worlds dirtiest rivers a place to dispose of all things foul. This area forms the venue for the annual "Moomba" festival, which notably features an annual water skiing competition which attracts a huge crowd. The lower stretch of the river from Docklands to the Melbourne Cricket Ground was part of the final path of the Queen's Baton Relay of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. On arriving in sight of the river, the two natives who were with me, pointing to the river, called out, 'Yarra Yarra', which at the time I imagined to be its name; but I afterwards learnt that the words were what they used to designate a waterfall, as they afterwards gave the same designation to a small fall in the river Werribee, as we crossed it on our way back to Indented Head. Wedge asked local aborigines what they called the cascading waters on the lower section of the river. Around this area there are submerged mining shafts which can cause undertows that suck swimmers under the surface and into these shafts. Levels of bacteria, particularly E. coli and substances like grease, oils and heavy metals in the Yarra River and its tributaries are a major problem. [8], The river was called Birrarung by the Wurundjeri people who occupied the Yarra Valley and much of Central Victoria prior to European colonisation. When the river water combines with marine salts as it enters Port Phillip, the suspended particles clump together and sink. 1835 was an eventful year in the history of the Yarra River. 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. [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. Image compiled by J. Blundell, from State Library Victoria. Sections of the river are occasionally closed for public events such as Moomba, New Year's Eve and Rowing events. At certain times of the year, particularly during the Moomba Festival, this stretch of the river is occupied by water skiing courses and jumps. Would you like to see more improved bioretention systems and more, Ocean Protect were proud to support the South Australian Stormwater Symposium on Thursday, 8th September 2022. Discover more than 60 different types of nature-based experiences including hiking, mountain biking, boating, four-wheel driving, indigenous culture tours, birdwatching, surfing, diving and so much more. A four-year-long boom soon followed, and today Gila River is one of the more famous gold panning locations in the state. 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. Watch the following video to see it for yourself: Take a tour of the upper Yarra River at picturesque Warburton. The Woods Point Rd follows the river through this section. In 1910, the main channel was widened and deepened (81 to 131m or 266 to 430ft). The construction of the Upper Yarra Reservoir in 1957 reduced the river's flow by around 50%. [21] Early industry located along the river contributed great amounts of pollution such as dangerous chemicals, grease, oil and heavy metals. Depart from Southgate on the Spirit of Melbourne, a vessel that offers encompassing glass viewing areas as you dine away and pass Melbourne's parks, gardens and sport's stadiums and more. The river now compares favourably with many metropolitan rivers overseas. The channel immediately downstream of Charles Grimes Bridge in the vicinity of Yarra's Edge Marina has reduced water depth as a result of sediment build up. 4. The basin is home to over 190 bird species, including honeyeaters, waterbirds, birds of prey, and songbirds. The particles are kept suspended by the turbulence in some parts of the middle and lower sections of the river. The Yarra River is colloquially known as "the upside down river", for its golden hue. 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. Melbourne Water is the lead agency for implementing the Yarra Strategic Plan (Burndap Birrarung Burndap Unmarkoo) 2022-32. Our Sydney office/warehouse has moved to 60 Lyn Parade, Prestons, NSW 2170, The study Biofiltrations effect on removing pollutants in stormwater was recently published in the Australian Water Association Water e-Journal. Congratulations Yarra Riverkeeper: Ian Penrose! Along with Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire in the Northeast, North Carolina and Georgia are popular with miners in the Southeast, while California, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho are well known out West. Enjoy the leafy grounds and abundant wildlife while strolling or biking its many trails. Surround yourself with the majestic views of Melbourne's cityscape views on the renowned Yarra River. The last time the Yarra experienced a major flood was in 1934, when the region endured 48 hours of rain, which destroyed 400 buildings and left 6,000 people homeless. With two legislative days remaining until Crossover Day, legislators and lobbyists spent all . There are easy walks and tracks around this area. The Yarra River's journey begins on the southern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and twists through the forested valleys of the Yarra Ranges and its quaint regional towns before concluding its journey on the muddy flats of Port Phillip Bay. To the Wurundjeri people the river, known as Birrarung, was the life source and an important meeting place. 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. Copyright Ocean Protect 2022. By 1942, 650m of the old course of the Yarra River at Coode Island had been filled in, by the 1950s it had been completely filled and land parcels were allocated including a site for the new Fish Markets. The river was then fully dammed at the entrance and exit to the tunnel and water was diverted through 145m and out the other side leaving a 3.85km of riverbed around Pound Bend exposed to the sun and the miners picks. The river's resources were utilised sustainably by the Wurundjeri until European settlement in the early-mid-19th century. Members of the public flooded the State Capitol again on Tuesday. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The Yarra River then turns westwards at Healesville and thence to Yarra Glen. . Hire a canoe at historic Studley Park Boathouse, paddle upstream, and spot flying foxes. This has ultimately led to a lack of healthy understory and saplings, or a lack of saplings completely, which contributes to problems such as reduced habitat, erosion and salinity, issues that ironically affect surrounding agriculture. Parks Victoria Information Centre. The Melbourne Docklands urban renewal project began in 2000, comprising mixed use residential and commercial land and recreational boating moors along the river at the disused Victoria Dock and on the south bank of the Yarra. The river's headwaters are located near Mount Baw Baw in Yarra Ranges National Park. Small historical bridges can be found further downstream including the Banksia Street, Fitzsimons Lane and Warrandyte Bridges. In the 1850s, the region was on the bustling route to the Warburton goldfields. Main food source for Indigenous Australians pre-European history: The Yarra River played a pivotal role for the Wurundjeri people, serving as their epicentre for food, meeting and camping. Swamp scrub occurs in permanently wet areas, especially in the catchments south and east. 2016 Yering Station Estate Chardonnay Yarra Valley SKU #1424727 95 points James Halliday Straw-yellow. Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne's largest natural bushland park. 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. At its most easterly point, it is fed by many small unnamed creeks and streams that begin in the Yarra Ranges within the Yarra Ranges National Park, which are sometimes fed by snowfalls. [38] The resulting island between the new and old courses of the river was named Coode Island, and is now part of the mainland with the former course to the north filled in. The Yarra River is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape that includes traditional Country of the Wurundjeri People. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yarra_River&oldid=1140702181, The Yarra has been captured in many famous paintings including some by the, The river has featured in songs by the Whirling Furphies, titled, A poem entitled "Yara Yara" was written by Greek poet, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 09:38. The first step is finding the right spot in the river where the gold might collect, such as a crook in the bedrock, idle pools, log jams, inside corners of rivers or spaces between boulders.. [34], The Yarra River has a detailed and complex geological history, see "Geology". So where is this picturesque spot? New ferry services and water taxis sprang up along the city reach, servicing as far up river as South Yarra and out to Hobsons Bay. Please see our, Shallow Waters - River Channel Downstream of Charles Grimes Bridge, Bellbird Picnic Area (Yarra Bend Park, Yarra River), Banksia Park Picnic Area (Yarra River, Yarra Valley Parklands), Big Peninsula Picnic Area (Yarra River, Yarra Ranges National Park), Banksia Park West Lawns (Yarra Valley Parklands, Yarra River), Dights Falls Loop Trail (Yarra River, Yarra Bend Park), Golf Course (Yarra River, Yarra Bend Park), Herring Island floating landing (Yarra River), Jumping Creek Reserve (Yarra River, Warrandyte State Park), Little Peninsula Picnic Area (Yarra River, Yarra Ranges National Park), Longridge Campground (Yarra Valley Parklands, Yarra River), Mount Lofty Canoe Trail (Yarra River, Yarra River Heritage River, Warrandyte State Park), Norman Reserve (Yarra River, Warrandyte State Park), Pound Bend Reserve (Yarra River, Warrandyte State Park), Studley Park Boathouse and Picnic Area (Yarra Bend Park, Yarra River), Taroona Reserve (Yarra River, Warrandyte State Park), Westfield Extension Circuit Trail (Yarra River, Yarra Bend Park), Yarra River - Johnston Street to Dights Falls (Yarra River, Lower Yarra River land), Yarra River - Spencer St Bridge to Queens Bridge (Yarra River), Yarra River - MacRobertson Bridge to Bridge Road (Yarra River), Yarra River - Church St Bridge to MacRobertson Bridge (Yarra River, Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park), Yarra River - Swan St Bridge to Morell Bridge (Yarra River), Yarra River - Charles Grimes Bridge to Spencer St Bridge (Yarra River), Yarra River - Queen St Bridge to Princes Bridge (Yarra River), Yarra River - Princes Bridge to Swan St Bridge (Princes Warf, Yarra River), Yarra River - Morell Bridge to Church St Bridge (Yarra River), Lower Yarra River Future Directions Plan 2001 (PDF), Lower Yarra River recommendations on Future Funding, Governance and Strategeic Considerations for Lower Yarra River management (PDF), Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo - Yarra Strategic Plan. The river was drained and diverted in various areas throughout the gold rush to aid gold miners. The Main Yarra Trail is one of Melbourne's most iconic routes, following the Birrarung Yarra River from the north eastern suburbs to the city. Gold in Gila River was found in 1858, when Col. Jacob Snively and his men struck gold outside Gila City. These tools enable us to improve your website experience and to provide content and ads tailored to your interests. Westward view from Batmans Hill painting by Robert Russell based on sketch from 1836 or 1837. Know your river: Yarra River wildlife guide, Yarra Strategic Plan (Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo), Permanent water-saving rules and Target 150, Work or build near our assets or easements, Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program, Edithvale-Seaford Wetland Education Centre, Training and approval to work on a Melbourne Water site, Bird species at the Eastern Treatment Plant, Bird species at the Western Treatment Plant, Western Treatment Plant augmented reality app, Healthy Waterways Strategy report card - Yarra catchment, as the source of 70 per cent of Melbournes drinking water. La Camera, Southgate This series of rocks, originally used to cross the river, and referred to as the "Yarra Falls" was removed using explosives and divers in 1883. A history of flooding: The first recorded flood in The Yarra River was in 1839. Keep an eye out to make some new feathered friends. Acknowledgement of the countryWe acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. Check the fire danger ratings before you visit on hot days. Flows in the Yarra and its tributaries have been significantly altered by numerous dams and the extraction of water for agriculture. Despite being one of the citys most recognisable natural landmarks, even locals know little about the Yarra River. Its marshlands were covered over to prevent . In the early days, the river would frequently flood. flickr/daniel montemayor. In the period 200408, 3 people died in this manner in Warrandyte alone. [29] The muddy brown colour is caused by the easily eroded clay soils of its catchment area. This section is a declared water catchment and is closed . Some of the more prominent and historical crossings include;[39], Several reserves have been set aside adjoining the Yarra, mostly to preserve the natural environment or for recreation, many of these are managed and operated by Parks Victoria, the state government agency responsible for the management of Victoria's national parks and other reserves. Learn about grants available to support innovation, liveability and collaboration across water management, and improve river health. @thesurfingprospector6345. The Yarra has something for everyone! We also talk about the South Fork of the Snake River and why it's awesome to euro nymph in this area. Oils and grease remain today in several tributaries in the lower reaches such as Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds Creek.[22]. Did you know: More than one-third of Victorias population lives in the Yarra catchment, which spans about 4000 square kilometres. [33] It has had successful campaigns in pushing for great environmental flows and in 2010 the Riverkeeper Ian Penrose was awarded the 2010 Melbourne Award for contribution to the environment. The river's resources were utilised sustainably by the Wurundjeri until the arrival of European colonists in the early-mid-19th century. In 1957, the Upper Yarra Reservoir was constructed, primarily to alleviate flooding downstream. The catchment's upper reaches are also affected by logging. All rights reserved. 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. Initially known as "West Melbourne Dock", over 3million cubic yards (2.310^6m3) of material was excavated and a new dock was eventually opened in 1892, the material that was removed was subsequently used to fill in part of the West Melbourne Swamp, it took 6 days for water from the Yarra River to fill the dock. But this growth came at a cost. Today, the Yarra River is an integral part of our lives and each year attracts millions of visitors - who walk, ride, row, fish or camp along its banks. By continuing to use our site you consent to this. 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. It was feared that dredging would disturb heavy metals and other toxic sediments mostly deposited during Melbourne's industrial era. The river hosts many geographical features such as; bends, rapids, lakes, islands, floodplains, billabongs and wetlands. Its a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates. Today, the Yarra River is an integral part of our lives and each year attracts millions of visitors who walk, ride, row, fish or camp along its banks. There's also a lot of rubbish in the Yarra near the city. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, parks offer a variety of day trips close to Melbourne. Some well-known placer locations along the river include: McPhaul placer: A gold mine located around 200 feet northeast . The current name of the river was translated incorrectly: The actual name of the Yarra River is Yarro-yarro, which is a Wurundjeri term in the Boonwurrung language meaning ever-flowing. This is a very accurate description as the river is a perennial waterway, meaning it has a continuous flow all year round due to years of normal rainfall. We use reCAPTCHA to protect our website from spam, for more information about the data we collect see our privacy website statement. Federation Square was proposed to connect the spine of Melbourne to the Yarra at Federation Wharf and a neighbouring park, Birrarung Marr was also built along the north bank, creating renewed interest in connecting city workers to the river. In the middle reaches, canoeing and kayaking is popular, there are a few rapids of easy to medium difficulty depending on the water level. In the same year, a small settlement that later became Melbourne developed on the rivers lower reaches. Here I'm with Crouch from the Surfing prospector and see a large flat piece of gold just sitting there. The river has been a major food source and meeting place for Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. Below Dights Falls at Yarra Bend Park in inner Melbourne, the river becomes increasingly estuarine as it passes along the southern side of the central business district. Devastating flooding was also a regular feature of the original narrow, twisting waterway. The first Europeans to sail up the river was a surveying party led by Charles Grimes, Acting Surveyor General of New South Wales, who in 1803 sailed upstream to Dights Falls, where they could no longer continue due to the nature of the terrain. Since its establishment in 2004, YRKA has delivered hundreds of presentations and lectures, been in over 200 media appearances and provide on-water inspection tours to over 200 community leaders, business leaders, and politicians. Stash some supplies into a back pack and take the family out for a day trip and in only a short drive from Melbourne you can be surrounded by nature. Medium gold in hue, this full-bodied Chardonnay starts on the quiet side, but after time in glass it opens to reveal citrus, melon, mint and salted nut characters, backed by a prominent line of . 5. 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