Pound Bend has a delightful picnic area with tables, toilets, a canoe launching ramp and great views of the river. The catchment's upper reaches are also affected by logging. [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. There are four bridges on the Yarra River with limited height clearances at high tide:[39], "Yarra Yarra" redirects here. Platypus are rarely seen as far downstream as Fairfield. The river was partially dammed at Pound Bend near Normans Reserve at its eastern entrance and near Bob's wetlands at its western exit. 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. It was utilised and managed sustainably by the Wurundjeri for around 40,000 years; however, since the European settlement and use of the river in the mid-19th century, its geography has changed substantially reflecting the unsustainable use of the river and surrounding resources. Whether you'd rather your cruise to be chartered by an expert Skipper on our luxury . Gold was discovered in the suburb of Warrandyte at Andersons Creek, one of Yarras tributaries, in 1851, marking the beginning of the Victorian gold rush. Our iconic waterways are the lifeblood of Melbournes natural landscape learn how you can help look after them. The river's source is a series of swamps in the upper reaches of the Yarra Ranges National Park, directly to the west of the Mount Baw Baw plateau, a thickly forested subalpine park, which is entirely closed-off to all except the employees of Melbourne Water. Other trees on the riverbank include river red gums, river bottlebrushes, sedges, rushes, and prickle currant bush. Canoeing and kayaking are great ways to explore beautiful waterways. A few tips from the experts: There are thousands of places across the country to go in search of gold. From there, continuously weed out the bigger rocks and pebbles. Yarra River. 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. The facility was situated inside Warrandyte State Park, from where the spillover until June 2015 flowed into the river and downstream towards Melbourne. 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. The Yarra has something for everyone! The campground is well-equipped for a cookout, with a wood BBQ, picnic tables, drinking water and a dishwashing area. The river flows through different habitats, including large pristine forests, dense urban areas, and agricultural land. The river hosts many geographical features such as; bends, rapids, lakes, islands, floodplains, billabongs and wetlands. 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. Devastating flooding was also a regular feature of the original narrow, twisting waterway. La Camera, Southgate Agriculture and industrial development takes place in the middle and lower portions. Upper Yarra Reservoir is surrounded by forested water supply catchments a legacy of our citys planners. A four-year-long boom soon followed, and today Gila River is one of the more famous gold panning locations in the state. The Yarra River was an important resource for the Wurundjeri people for around 40,000 years. St Arnaud Creek Tributary of Carapooee Creek. The river enters Melbourne's suburbs proper at Chirnside Park, but virtually all the river's length is surrounded by parkland, much retaining (or having been replanted with) extensive native vegetation. Some small hobby farms are located in the floodplain area of the river, surprisingly close to central Melbourne and almost completely surrounded by suburbs. 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. The plan gives effect to the community's long-term vision for the Yarra and supports collaborative management of the river and its lands. Beginning with the Victorian gold rush (1850s and 60s), it was extensively mined and had numerous bridges built to facilitate the growing transport needs. 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 . Through the 1970s and 1980s, many desirable developments alongside the river began, such as the Victorian Arts Centre, as its lower courses progressively became gentrified. [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. Abattoirs, smelters and even mortuaries were to use the river as a means of waste disposal in its lower reaches. [18] This was due mostly to previous storm water drainage works which utilised Elizabeth street as a watercourse during times of intense rain creating flash floods. Grab a cuppa, put your feet up and turn up the sound! And once you've finished swimming, it is only a short walk to cafes and eateries. In the lower reaches, the river is mostly used for rowing, there are several rowing sheds along the city stretch east of the Princes Bridge and many private schools have rowing clubs with sheds and berths on the river. Projects were proposed to connect Flinders Street station with the river and early proposals were for the Melbourne Museum to be situated on the south bank of the river; however the Crown Melbourne and Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre were built in its place. [citation needed], Gold was first discovered in Victoria near the Yarra River in Warrandyte. The area in front of old Customs House is a former turning basin for ships. In the rivers upper reaches, fishing is most popular. The first City Baths were opened in 1860. There are easy walks and tracks around this area. Rowing is a long-standing tradition along the Yarra and the boat sheds are an integral part of the riverscape. 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. The Wurundjeri people have always had a deep connection to 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. Melbournes most valuable natural asset is home to a range of beautiful indigenous plants, animals, birds and fish, and is vital to our social and economic wellbeing: The Lower (left) and Upper (right) Yarra River and catchment areas: click to enlarge map or download it below. The presence of clay particles is not a major factor in the pollution of the river. 4. Before 8000 BC, the Yarra River probably joined course with other present-day Port Phillip Bay tributaries such as the Patterson, Kororoit, Werribee, Little River, and drained directly through a narrow gap (what is now called the Rip) into a bay of the Great Australian Bight on the west side of a prehistoric land bridge called the Bassian Plain (which later became submerged into the Bass Strait). Copyright Ocean Protect 2022. All rights reserved. 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. Theres plenty of the Yarra to explore beyond the city. The Yarra River has two other names the upside down river and Birrarung. You should also bring a pan the size of a dinner plate, a strainer called a classifier and sucker bottles to capture the gold. This is an important spawning and nursery area for brown trout from the Yarra River. 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]. 9. Indeed, starting in 1905, the annual Henley Regatta on the Yarra became a fixture of . 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. Enthroned by gold, Melbourne quickly became Australias largest city. The Yarra River is colloquially known as "the upside down river", for its golden hue. After a few minutes, you should be left with black sand hopefully speckled with flakes of gold. For example, in recent years paper company Amcor has been fined several times by EPA Victoria for polluting the Yarra and environs. Also referred to as Yarra Yarra, Birrarung and Wongete, the Yarra River is a perennial river that flows in the south-central part of Victoria, Australia and is one of Melbournes major attractions. The day's most visible group was Mothers Demand Action, members of which crowded the halls in a sea of red as they advocated lawmakers for gun control measures. A dropoff works just like any of the other gold traps; as the water runs into the dropoff, the volume of the river suddenly expands massively, acting as a brake on the current. Gold in Gila River was found in 1858, when Col. Jacob Snively and his men struck gold outside Gila City. 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. Watch the following video to see it for yourself: Take a tour of the upper Yarra River at picturesque Warburton. The 3 Mile course ran in the lower reaches, from Twickenham Ferry (now MacRobertson Bridge) to Princes Bridge. 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. The strong brown, muddy colour of the river is caused by clay soils. 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. [29] The muddy brown colour is caused by the easily eroded clay soils of its catchment area. Small historical bridges can be found further downstream including the Banksia Street, Fitzsimons Lane and Warrandyte Bridges. Delivering the plan is a Victorian Government commitment to protect our treasured Yarra River, Birrarung, and its parklands for future generations. The upper river section flows through mountainous and forested areas that have been protected for more than 100 years to ensure the river provides quality drinking water. River red gums form a tree canopy with a dense understorey of silver wattles, river bottlebrush, prickly currant bush and tree violet. Sections of the river are occasionally closed for public events such as Moomba, New Year's Eve and Rowing events. Congratulations Yarra Riverkeeper: Ian Penrose! providing recreational opportunities like rowing, fishing, bird watching, picnicking and walking. The area surrounding the Yarra River was first inhabited by the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin nation. 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. 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. At Healesville, the river turns west again and the stream bed becomes increasingly silty, reducing the clarity of the water, and by the commuter town of Yarra Glen it begins to take on the brownish colour that the lower reaches are known for. . Situated to the south of Yarra River, the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens have some of the most exquisite flora and fauna to offer up to nature aficionados. The Yarra River then turns westwards at Healesville and thence to Yarra Glen. Following this, the river was widened to protect Melbourne residents from future flooding. Thanks to an abundance of native plants and water supply, the wildlife in and around the Yarra River is highly diverse. 2016 Yering Station Estate Chardonnay Yarra Valley SKU #1424727 95 points James Halliday Straw-yellow. Before European settlement, the Yarra River was a major food source and meeting place for local indigenous people, the Wurundjeri people. Yarra Ranges Shire Council Flood information for the Yarra Ranges Shire Council, encompassing local flood guides and a Municipal Flood Emergency Plan. 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. [21] Early industry located along the river contributed great amounts of pollution such as dangerous chemicals, grease, oil and heavy metals. Today, the Yarra mouth including Swanson and Appleton docks are used for container shipping by the Port of Melbourne, which is the busiest on the continent. The river was utilised primarily for agriculture by early European settlers. [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. In 2008, dredging began to deepen the mouth of the Yarra to enable large container ships to reach the Port of Melbourne. [citation needed]. 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