Yarra Bend Park is the largest area of natural bushland near the heart of Melbourne. The Yarra River is one of Melbourne's greatest assets. 1835 was an eventful year in the history of the Yarra River. 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. However almost all of the fish are contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic and not fit for human consumption. 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. Despite being one of the citys most recognisable natural landmarks, even locals know little about the Yarra River. Most features have been named after translated Wurundjeri phrases or have European, particularly British, origins. The river is home to several species of fish. Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne's largest natural bushland park. In 1803, New South Wales Acting Surveyor-General Charles Grimes and his party became the first Europeans to sail up the river. A bicycle and walking trail known as the Main Yarra Trail begins at Warrandyte and becomes the Yarra River Trail, and in the lower reaches, the Capital City Trail. . [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. Stop for a picnic, walk your dog or play a round of golf. 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. From the gushing tropical rivers in Cairns, the glitter strip of the Gold Coast, to the coastal beauty of Coffs Harbour, mesmerising Sydney Harbour and its innumerable inlets, Adrenaline provides the perfect place for rafting tours and trips at the best prices. 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. flickr/daniel montemayor. The river's resources were utilised sustainably by the Wurundjeri until the arrival of European colonists in the early-mid-19th century. Whilst the water is not particularly clear, its quality is sufficient for edible fish to swim within it. There is a canoe launching ramp only 100m from the campground. 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. Yarra River also serves as a habitat for frogs such as Perons tree frog, eastern froglet, and southern toadlet. The strong brown, muddy colour of the river is caused by clay soils. 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. [19][20] The project was completed in November 2009. The project was controversial and strict regulations were enacted. Theres plenty of the Yarra to explore beyond the city. [9], Upon European arrival it was given the name 'Yarra Yarra' by John Helder Wedge of the Port Phillip Association in 1835,[10] in the mistaken belief that this was the name for the river in the Boonwurrung language. It is approximately 242 kilometres (150mi) in length, with a mean annual flow of 718 gigalitres (2.541010cuft), which is roughly 50% its original flow prior to damming. [26], Several programs are being implemented to minimise beach and river pollution, mostly organised by community groups, EPA Victoria and local councils. Swimming is safer downstream, but not advisable below Dights Falls due to the high levels of pollution and high boating traffic. 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. [30] They are part of the global Waterkeeper Alliance movement and have been involved in forums and discussions pushing for policies to ensure that "the voice" of the river is heard. Water quality is good in the upper catchment but deteriorates downstream, due to agriculture, urban development and the resulting stormwater pollution. The Yarra Riverbank is home to over 20 unique plant communities. It is mostly concentrated in central Melbourne where cruises go up and down the river and ferries operate. Ian Penrose, founder of the Yarra Riverkeeper Association. [7], The annual Moomba festival celebrates the Yarra River's increasing cultural significance to Melbourne. The clay soil in the region breaks up into tiny particles and dissipates throughout the whole of the river. The current bridge was constructed in 1888. The last time the Yarra experienced a major flood was in 1934, when the region endured 48 hours of . Many cultural sites are still with us today like the Yarra Flats dreaming, and the Heide Scar tree and Bolin Bolin Billabong in Bulleen. 3. In August, 1896, Skookum Jim and his family found gold near the Klondike River in Canada's Yukon Territory. 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 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. The facility was situated inside Warrandyte State Park, from where the spillover until June 2015 flowed into the river and downstream towards Melbourne. The Yarra River Precinct's famed riverside dining and drinking started with Riverland Bar at Federation Wharf nearly 20 years ago. Spring Hill Creek Tributary of Mount Emu Creek. The upper Yarra and its main tributaries flow through forested, mountainous areas that have been protected for over 100 years to safeguard the quality of our drinking water. The manna gums grow along the upper reaches and provide food for the koalas. It is thought that Birrarung is derived either from a Wurundjeri words meaning "ever flowing". In the zone for flavour, texture and length. Victorians are concerned about the health of the Yarra: Due to stormwater runoff, up to 350,000 cigarette butts enter the Yarra catchment every day, which is a small representation of the rubbish that makes its way into the river and locals are worried. 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. The Yarra River once held the world's largest swimming event, the Race to Prince's Bridge. as well as other partner offers and accept our. [At the Yarra Riverkeeper Association] our activities include monitoring the health of the Yarra and any developments through our regular boat patrols, water testing, speaking with river stakeholders, running community forums and tours, publicising and educating the public, schools and others while supporting other community groups and authorities that help the river. The river is fed by a number of small unnamed creeks and streams in the Yarra Ranges as well as 49 named tributaries, most of which are creeks. 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. [15], The Port Phillip settlement, that would become Melbourne, was established along the lower banks of the Yarra in 1835. The 3 Mile course ran in the lower reaches, from Twickenham Ferry (now MacRobertson Bridge) to Princes Bridge. Elemental to Melbourne's identity, the Yarra River is one of Victoria's iconic waterways. The section of the Yarra River between Warrandyte and Warburton is a Victoria Heritage River. Beginning with the Victorian gold rush it was extensively mined, creating the Pound Bend Tunnel in Warrandyte, and the Big and Little Peninsula Tunnels above Warburton. All rights reserved. During this era it was also commonplace for the winner of the Australian Open to bathe in the Yarra River as a post victory celebration. The race often attracted greater than 500 competitors and large numbers of onlookers seeking to experience the spectacle. In 2008, dredging began to deepen the mouth of the Yarra to enable large container ships to reach the Port of Melbourne. This gem is king of our rivers in Northern California. The first flood was recorded in 1839, and the largest in 1891 which saw water levels rise 14 metres above normal, destroying 200 houses. 4. After a few minutes, you should be left with black sand hopefully speckled with flakes of gold. The upstream also contains a closed-off dam known as the Upper Yarra Reservoir. The presence of clay particles is not a major factor in the pollution of the river. Some of the parks youll see along the way include: The Lower Yarra Revegetation Project planted 18,000 native plants along 14 kilometres of the river to help improve water quality and habitat. Beginning in the Klamath mountain, it runs 445 miles before its finish line at the San Francisco Bay and Delta. But that doesn't stop a group of intrepid swimmers taking the plunge into the Yarra River at inner-city Fairfield most mornings. The Yarra River soon became polluted with sewer and industrial waste. 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). Melbourne Water is the lead agency for implementing the Yarra Strategic Plan (Burndap Birrarung Burndap Unmarkoo) 2022-32. Freshwater catfish have been caught at Westerfolds . Did you know: More than one-third of Victorias population lives in the Yarra catchment, which spans about 4000 square kilometres. 9. Growing high density residential development in the lower reaches in the early 1990s coincided with minor government programs such as the installation of litter traps. 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