[26], Several programs are being implemented to minimise beach and river pollution, mostly organised by community groups, EPA Victoria and local councils. Since its creation it has been the home of hundreds of ancient American Indian tribes. Then the river turns northwards at Woori Yallock and flows through the Yarra Valley wine region. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. An example of this is the tunnel at Pound Bend in Warrandyte. By the following year almost 200 Europeans had settled on the rivers banks, growing to 500,000 people by 1860 once gold was discovered at one of the rivers tributaries in Warrandyte. Stokes River Tributary of Glenelg River. To the Wurundjeri people the river, known as Birrarung, was the life source and an important meeting place. 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. [citation needed], The first major change came with the cutting of the Coode Canal between 1880 and 1886. 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.. In March 2019, it was reported that the river's environmental health is at risk due to litter, pollution, pets and urban development. The Gold Rush saw increased development in Melbourne and "tent cities" of new migrants lined the Yarra during the early years of the gold rush. 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. Stringer's Creek Tributary of Thompson River. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider [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. [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. Heidelberg formed the home of the Heidelberg School, widely considered the first European painters to accurately capture the Australian landscape and its distinctive features. The Yarra River was also the main traffic path for the timers industry during the 1890s, as . La Camera, Southgate In 1916, the central pier at Victoria Dock was completed which provided 6 additional shipping berths and cargo sheds and creating a distinctive landmark for Melbourne ports. 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. As rivers, lakes and reservoirs are natural environments, you may encounter hazards. The Woods Point Rd follows the river through this section. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Spring Creek. The Yarra River, no doubt is the iconic heart of Melbourne as it meanders through the heart of Melbourne City. 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. A history of flooding: The first recorded flood in The Yarra River was in 1839. Image compiled by J. Blundell, from State Library Victoria. Enjoy the leafy grounds and abundant wildlife while strolling or biking its many trails. 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. In the period 200408, 3 people died in this manner in Warrandyte alone. The Yarra has something for everyone! The final section passes through the Port of Melbourne and under the Bolte Bridge and the West Gate Bridge. 4. Swamp scrubs dominate the wet areas in the east and west, while riparian scrubs are common on most river sections. 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. Always check for signs of pollution before you swim. The majority of waste from homes and industries flowed into street channels and on to local rivers and creeks which became open sewers. Their discovery sparked one of the most frantic gold rushes in history. In 1891, the great flood caused the Yarra to swell to 305 metres (1,001ft) in width. St Arnaud Creek Tributary of Carapooee Creek. The river is used extensively for kayaking at Templestowe, and canoes can often be seen throughout the suburban section. The river has been a major food source and meeting place for Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. [17] However, people continued to swim and drink the water until Melbourne's fresh water was sourced from elsewhere. The river, known to the Wurundjeri people as Birrarung, was an important resource for the Wurundjeri people and several sites along the river and its tributaries were important meeting places where corroborees were held between Indigenous communities. Strathfillan Creek Tributary of Carapooee Creek. 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. 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. Currently, it accounts for about 70% of Greater Melbournes drinking water supply. 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. flickr/daniel montemayor. Some small hobby farms are located in the floodplain area of the river, surprisingly close to central Melbourne and almost completely surrounded by suburbs. The lower reaches feature a number of boat cruises, using especially low-roof boats to go under the many bridges across this section of the Yarra. 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. The park features extensive stands of mountain ash, a very tall eucalypt, tree ferns, as well as patches of remnant rainforest. Miners then blasted a 145m long tunnel through solid rock. Mention the Yarra River and you might think of the last few kilometres that cut through the city but its so much more. 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'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. 5. Enjoy the tranquility and spot wildlife that hikers dont normally see. 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. The increasing industrialisation of the river and the growth of the shipping industry saw the need for major infrastructure works which dramatically changed the course of the river in its lower reaches. Upstream of Launching Place the river becomes quite narrow and recreational use is limited. 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. Swanson Dock was constructed between 1966 and 1972 equipped for modern container shipping. Further upstream, the Cremorne Gardens were established in 1853. In the lower reaches of the Yarra mainly southern black bream[35] and jellyfish and in the upper reaches smaller quantities of European perch (redfin), Macquarie perch, brown trout, Murray cod and freshwater catfish. 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 first permanent crossing over the river was Princes Bridge, which first opened as a wooden trestle bridge in 1844. 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. It is thought that Birrarung is derived either from a Wurundjeri words meaning "ever flowing". 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. In February 1972, the CBD was flooded as the natural watercourse of Elizabeth Street became a raging torrent. 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. 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 The Yarra River drains an area of approximately 4,078 square kilometers and discharges an average of 37 cubic meters of water per second at the mouth. Most of these miners were working alluvial gold in the creeks, and the Yarra river, and though quartz with gold in it was being found, there was no efficient method of crushing the rock to obtain the gold. Some of the river's more prominent features include; Coode Island and Fishermans Bend, Victoria Harbour, Herring Island, Yarra Bend, Dights Falls, Upper Yarra Dam and Reservoir and many river flats and billabongs. Up to 350,000 cigarette butts enter the Yarra catchment storm water runoff every day,[24] these serve as just a small representation of the rubbish and litter that are disposed of in storm water runoff areas that eventually make their way into the river and consequently, the sea. The dock was later renamed Victoria Dock. Watch the following video to see it for yourself: Take a tour of the upper Yarra River at picturesque Warburton. Most features have been named after translated Wurundjeri phrases or have European, particularly British, origins. The riverside apartment complex Como Centre at South Yarra and the larger urban renewal of the formerly industrial Southbank precinct were both built during the late 1990s. The community and authorities need to come together to take a closer interest in the Yarras ecology. Again, towards the end of the 1850's and into the early 1860's, Anderson's Creeks became largely deserted as a result of the opening . The lowest section is an estuary where ocean water and salt travel upstream for about 10 kilometers. 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. The Yarra Rivers 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. As rivers, lakes and reservoirs are natural environments, you may encounter hazards, 3 died! 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