So where is this picturesque spot? Yarra Ranges Shire Council Flood information for the Yarra Ranges Shire Council, encompassing local flood guides and a Municipal Flood Emergency Plan. In the middle reaches there are a few rapids of easy to moderate difficulty, however these are sparsely distributed. 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. 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. 4. Its a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates. The plan gives effect to the community's long-term vision for the Yarra and supports collaborative management of the river and its lands. In 1803, New South Wales Acting Surveyor-General Charles Grimes and his party became the first Europeans to sail up the river. Elemental to Melbournes identity, the Yarra River is one of Victorias iconic waterways. The Yarra River then turns westwards at Healesville and thence to Yarra Glen. Westward view from Batmans Hill painting by Robert Russell based on sketch from 1836 or 1837. But the Wurundjeri believed that they had simply taken part in a friendship ceremony, and were granting Batman leave to pass through their country. The river was partially dammed at Pound Bend near Normans Reserve at its eastern entrance and near Bob's wetlands at its western exit. 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. 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. From bushland to wetlands and everything in between, parks provide habitat to an abundance of common and rare bird species. However almost all of the fish are contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic and not fit for human consumption. The catchment's upper reaches are also affected by logging. The water was clear at the time of the first European settlements, but intensive land clearing and development since the mid-19th century has resulted in the presence of microscopic clay particles. The 10-year plan supports collaborative management of the Yarra and its lands to give effect to the communitys long-term vision. The Yarra has something for everyone! 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. An example of this is the tunnel at Pound Bend in Warrandyte. The Yarra River Precinct's famed riverside dining and drinking started with Riverland Bar at Federation Wharf nearly 20 years ago. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. 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. The river was utilised primarily for agriculture by early European settlers. 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. Miners then blasted a 145m long tunnel through solid rock. 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. Stocked near the Yarra River junction in 1999 with Macquarie perch by Native Fish Australia. Swanson Dock was constructed between 1966 and 1972 equipped for modern container shipping. Several Aboriginal Australians have lived along the river for thousands of years, using it as their meeting place and food and water source. But they weren't the only ones demanding action under the Gold Dome. In the rivers upper reaches, fishing is most popular. [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. Gold was first discovered in Victoria near the Yarra River in Warrandyte. 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. Beginning in the Klamath mountain, it runs 445 miles before its finish line at the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Members of the public flooded the State Capitol again on Tuesday. Ian Penrose, founder of the Yarra Riverkeeper Association. 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. 4. Beyond Warburton there are very few crossings available. 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. 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. In the middle reaches, canoeing and kayaking is popular, there are a few rapids of easy to medium difficulty depending on the water level. 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. There is a canoe launching ramp only 100m from the campground. Water quality is good in the upper catchment but deteriorates downstream, due to agriculture, urban development and the resulting stormwater pollution. [citation needed], The Yarra's major tributaries are the Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds Creek, Merri Creek, Darebin Creek, Plenty River, Mullum Mullum Creek and Olinda Creek. 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. In 1957, the Upper Yarra Reservoir was constructed, primarily to alleviate flooding downstream. The river flows atop layers of silt that built up within an ancient river valley around 10,000-15,000 years ago. Learn about grants available to support innovation, liveability and collaboration across water management, and improve river health. 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. Melbourne, Victorias state capital, was established on the lower reaches of the river in 1835. The Yarra River or historically, the Yarra Yarra River,[3] (Kulin languages: Berrern, Birr-arrung, Bay-ray-rung, Birarang,[5] Birrarung,[6] and Wongete[1]) is a perennial river[3] in south-central Victoria, Australia. EXPLORE THE YARRA RIVER: LA CAMERA. Watch the following video to see it for yourself: Take a tour of the upper Yarra River at picturesque Warburton. It is the most westerly snow fed river in Australia. 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. Go for a wander and see how many you can spot. The 3 Mile course ran in the lower reaches, from Twickenham Ferry (now MacRobertson Bridge) to Princes Bridge. Acknowledgement of the countryWe acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. The Yarra River has two other names the upside down river and Birrarung. It rises at an elevation of 792 meters above sea level and drops to sea level at Port Philip. It is mostly concentrated in central Melbourne where cruises go up and down the river and ferries operate. To protect the city from flooding, a series of works began in 1879 to widen and straighten the river. The current bridge was constructed in 1888. But that doesn't stop a group of intrepid swimmers taking the plunge into the Yarra River at inner-city Fairfield most mornings. Upstream of Launching Place the river becomes quite narrow and recreational use is limited. 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. Enjoy the leafy grounds and abundant wildlife while strolling or biking its many trails. The Wurundjeri people caught eels in the lagoons and swamps of the river and also fished using funnel shaped fish pots. 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. Heavy metals deposited into the river throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries settled to the bottom of the river bed, particularly in the lower reaches through the city and Port Melbourne, and due to the increased artificial depth of the river through here, heavy metals have not been carried further, although some have been deposited out into Port Phillip. The river is home to several species of fish. The Yarra Riverbank is home to over 20 unique plant communities. He selected a site on the northern bank of the Yarra River, declaring that "this will be the place for a village". 3. 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. Gold in Gila River was found in 1858, when Col. Jacob Snively and his men struck gold outside Gila City. The Yarra River was an important resource for the Wurundjeri people for around 40,000 years. Swamp scrub occurs in permanently wet areas, especially in the catchments south and east. The last time the Yarra experienced a major flood was in 1934, when the region endured 48 hours of . Sacramento River. They replied 'Yarro Yarro', meaning 'it flows'. Manna gums can be found along the rivers upper reaches, and are an important food source for koalas. Canoeing and kayaking are great ways to explore beautiful waterways. 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. The Upper Yarra Dam, one of a number of dams in the Yarra Catchment that supply a large part of Melbourne's water, is the furthest upstream point on the river visible to the general public (though the dam itself is closed off). The particles are kept suspended by the turbulence in some parts of the middle and lower sections of the river. occasional brown trout and river blackfish. 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. You can leap from the cliff faces into the flowing water, or clamber across the smooth rocks in the shallow sections. In 1891, the great flood caused the Yarra to swell to 305 metres (1,001ft) in width. The lowest section is an estuary where ocean water and salt travel upstream for about 10 kilometers. The walking trail features placards displaying some of their paintings at the settings they were actually painted; some features depicted remain clearly recognisable today. Did you know: Originally called Birrarung, meaning a place of mists and shadows, the river only became known as the Yarra in the 1830s after a surveyor misheard local Aboriginal people saying Yarro Yarro: it flows. Copyright Ocean Protect 2022. And once you've finished swimming, it is only a short walk to cafes and eateries. Congratulations Yarra Riverkeeper: Ian Penrose! Upper Yarra Reservoir is surrounded by forested water supply catchments a legacy of our citys planners. Throughout its length, the waters of the Yarra River and its banks are used for; boating, rowing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, cycling, running and walking, amongst other things. It provided many resources and important places for spiritual and community activity, like birthplaces and ceremonial and burial grounds. . Elemental to Melbourne's identity, the Yarra River is one of Victoria's iconic waterways. The Woods Point Rd follows the river through this section. The river's lower reaches travel through central Melbourne. Whilst the water is not particularly clear, its quality is sufficient for edible fish to swim within it. 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. It has spiritual and cultural significance for Aboriginal communities. [citation needed] or 'river of mists'. The approximate location of the site is marked by a cairn on Fourth Hill in the Warrandyte State Park. Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne's largest natural bushland park. Check the fire danger ratings before you visit on hot days. "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. Mists ' at an elevation of 792 meters above sea level at Port Philip site is marked a. The resulting stormwater pollution community activity, like birthplaces and ceremonial and burial.... The public flooded the State Capitol again on Tuesday course ran in the lagoons and swamps of river! Birthplaces and ceremonial and burial grounds parts of the river, the great flood caused the Yarra is. And supports collaborative management of the Yarra to swell to 305 metres ( 1,001ft ) in width by... In 1858, when Col. 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