Maribyrnong River
Maribyrnong Salt Water River[1] | |
---|---|
Etymology | ringtail possum |
Native name | |
Location | |
Country | Victoria |
Region | North–western Melbourne |
City | Melbourne |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Macedon Ranges, Great Dividing Range |
Source confluence | Deep and Jackson Creeks |
• location | Taylors Lakes |
• coordinates | 37°40′10″S 144°48′17″E / 37.66944°S 144.80472°E |
• elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
Mouth | confluence with the Yarra River |
• location | Yarraville |
• coordinates | 37°49′14″S 144°54′25″E / 37.82056°S 144.90694°E |
• elevation | 0.2 m (7.9 in) |
Length | 40 km (25 mi) |
Basin size | 1,450 km2 (560 sq mi)[4] |
Basin features | |
River system | Port Phillip catchment |
[1][5] |
The Maribyrnong River
Course
The Maribyrnong River draws its headwaters from near
Headwaters
The head of the Maribyrnong catchment is situated in the Macedon Ranges region of central Victoria around 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of
Middle reaches
The river flows south and west. At
Lower reaches
The river becomes esturarine as it flows through Avondale Heights.[6] At Maribyrnong, Melbourne's Living Museum of the West presents information on the history of the river and the early industrial history of the site. Dolphins are sometimes sighted in the lower reaches of the river, along with many water birds, especially at Burndap Park. Footscray Park opposite the Flemington Racecourse is only metres down river from Pipemakers Park and Burndap Park, the river then meanders across the floodplain to its juncture with the Yarra River at Yarraville. The water quality of these estuarine reaches of the river is poor. Sediments show considerable pollution from past industrial activities and sewage discharge from the 20th century. Today, swimming is not recommended due to exposure to untreated sewage in run-off from these heavily urbanised areas.[6]
Geography
The geographic features and tributaries of the river are listed below, tributaries in bold:[8]
- Yarraville Wharves
- Maribyrnong Berth
- Newells Paddock Wetlands
- Burndap Lakes
- Jacks Canal
- Frogs Hollow Wetland
- Cliffs
- Steele or Rose Creek
- Grimes Flat
- Kulin Wetlands
- Taylors Creek
- Horseshoe Bend
- Gumms Corner
- Arundel Creek
- Deep Creek
Etymology
The river was initially named Saltwater River[9] by early settlers, due to the tidal nature of its lower reaches. The name Maribyrnong however, is derived from either mirring-gnay-bir-nong which in Woiwurrung, the language of the local Wurundjeri people, is said to mean "I can hear a ringtail possum"[9][10] or "saltwater river"[11] (Gunung or Gunnung is Woiwurrung for river,[12] as seen in the names of other watercourses in the area, such as; Koonung Creek and Birrarung).
Marriburnong is an alternate spelling listed on a map dated from 1840.[11]
The inner western and north-western suburbs of Melbourne are located in the vicinity of the Maribyrnong River and the river has given its name to the suburb of Maribyrnong and the local government area, the City of Maribyrnong.
History
The Maribyrnong River valley has been home for the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation for up to 40,000 years. Human remains dated at least 15,000–years–old have been found along the river, with much older signs of human habitation also present.
The first Europeans to explore along the river were the party led by
During the second half of the 19th century much of Melbourne's industry was located along the river, and the water became very degraded.[10] With the closure of many industries since the 1960s and 1970s, much river front land has opened up to parkland and highly sought after residential estates.
Recreational use
As the second major river in metropolitan Melbourne, the Maribyrnong plays a very important part in Melbourne's recreation.
Crossings
Road and rail bridges and other crossing points along the Maribyrnong River include:[13]
- Shepherd Bridge – primary arterial road
- South Kensington-West Footscray railway
- Hopetoun Bridge – primary arterial road
- Suburban railway to Footscray
- Former stock bridge – relocated from Punt Road, South Yarra
- Lynchs Bridge – primary arterial road
- Farnsworth Avenue Bridge – secondary arterial road
- Pipemakers Park Footbridge
- Maribyrnong Road Bridge – primary arterial road
- Afton Street Footbridge – pedestrian
- Canning Street Bridge (1970) – primary arterial road
- Medway Golf Club Footbridge
- Solomons Ford – historic crossing point
- Albion-Jacana railway
- E.J. Whitten Bridge – Western Ring Road
- Ford
- Ford
- Old Calder Highway Bridge – primary arterial road
- Historic Calder Bridge (1868)
- Calder FreewayBridge
- Flora Street Bridge – local road and private access
- Historic Arundel Road Bridge – (built 1906-7, closed to vehicles 1989, closed to pedestrians 2007)[14]
- Arundel Road Bridge (1989) – local road
Flora and fauna
Native species
Many native species exist along the Maribyrnong River with many species thriving in the area. may also be found in the river.
Introduced species
Introduced species include the
Environmental issues
The Maribyrnong River faces various environmental issues, apart from introduced pest species, also pollution and contamination – arsenic and heavy metals from industry and litter including one trap to mitigate litter entering the river from stormwater.[16][17] Today, industrial pollution still occurs due to poor chemical handling practices, improper storage, and dilapidated infrastructure. Continued land development for housing causes soil disturbance resulting in increased river turbidity.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Archived from the originalon 8 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the originalon 8 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the originalon 8 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ "Maribyrnong River Basin 30". Department of Primary Industries. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Map of Maribyrnong River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Pettigrove, Vincent (2019). Pollution in Melbourne's western streams; current condition, future threats and opportunities: Short Report to the Waters of the West Ministerial Advisory Committee (PDF).
- ^ "Recreational Boating guide: Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers" (PDF). Parks Victoria. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Melway, Edition 35, 2008
- ^ a b "Maribyrnong River Visitors Guide" (PDF). Parks Victoria (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Maribyrnong River | Melbourne Water". www.melbournewater.com.au. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Australian Places: Maribyrnong, Victoria". Monash University. 17 March 2006. Archived from the original on 17 September 2005. Retrieved 16 March 2006.
- ^ "About the Wurundjeri People". Yarra Healing. 17 March 2006.
- ^ Melway, Edition 36, 2009
- ^ Australian Heritage Database, Trestle Bridge, Arundel Rd, Keilor, VIC, Australia, retrieved 16 November 2010
- Government of Victoria. January 2008.
- ^ "Tracing a toxic river to its source". The Age. Melbourne. 24 August 2005.
- ^ "Arsenic leaked into river". The Age. Melbourne. 22 August 2005.
External links
- Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley
- [1] Parks Victoria Brimbank Park page Sept 2007
- [2] Maribyrnong River Parks Victoria page Sept 2007
- [3] Maribyrnong Valley Parklands – See Parknotes