Geography of the Yarra River

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Map of Yarra River and its tributaries.

The Yarra River is a river in East-Central Victoria, Australia that flows through the city of Melbourne. This article contains explanations and lists of the river's tributaries and other geographic features. The river flows atop layers of silt that built up within an ancient river valley around 10,000-15,000 years ago.

The river's major tributaries are the Plenty River, Merri Creek, Darebin Creek, Diamond Creek, Gardiners Creek, Mullum Mullum Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek. It hosts a wide range of geographic features including; bends, rapids, lakes, islands, floodplains, billabongs, wetlands, etc. Most features have been named after translated Woiwurrung phrases or have European, particularly British, origins.

The Yarra River has two other names ‘the upside down river’ and ‘Birrarung’. The Yarra was for say nicknamed the upside down river because of the way some of it looked. Birrarung was the very first name that the indigenous Australians gave it.

Tributaries[]

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 
Download coordinates as: KML
The Little Yarra River at Yarra Junction, 2009

The Yarra River has about 50 named tributaries; 6 rivers, 42 creeks and 2 gullies. 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. Below is a list of its tributaries (from downstream to upstream):[1]

Rivers of the Yarra River basin
Catchment river Elevation at
confluence		 River mouth Coordinates[2][3] River length
Tributary
Tributary
Tributary
Tributary
Tributary
Tributary
Yarra River 0 m (0 ft) Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip 37°51′7″S 144°54′30″E / 37.85194°S 144.90833°E / -37.85194; 144.90833 (Yarra River) 242 km (150 mi)
Stony Creek 0 m (0 ft) Yarra circa 5 km (3 mi)
Maribyrnong River 1 m (3 ft 3 in) Yarra 37°45′19″S 144°50′57″E / 37.75528°S 144.84917°E / -37.75528; 144.84917 (Maribyrnong River) 39 km (24 mi)
Steele Creek 5 m (16 ft) Maribyrnong 8 km (5 mi)
Taylors Creek 20 m (66 ft) Maribyrnong 13 km (8 mi)
Jackson Creek 42 m (138 ft) Maribyrnong 71 km (44 mi)
Longview Creek 270 m (890 ft) Jackson 8 km (5 mi)
Riddells Creek 296 m (971 ft) Jackson 15 km (9 mi)
Deep Creek 42 m (138 ft) Maribyrnong 128 km (80 mi)
Konagaderra Creek 164 m (538 ft) Deep 37°29′36″S 144°50′27″E / 37.49333°S 144.84083°E / -37.49333; 144.84083 (Konagaderra Creek) 17 km (11 mi)
Boyd Creek 243 m (797 ft) Deep 12 km (7 mi)
Lintons Creek 277 m (909 ft) Boyd 11 km (7 mi)
No 3 Creek 313 m (1,027 ft) Boyd 13 km (8 mi)
Emu Creek 270 m (890 ft) Deep 8 km (5 mi)
Bolinda (Emu) Creek 282 m (925 ft) Emu 9 km (6 mi)
Bolinda Creek 340 m (1,120 ft) Bolinda (Emu) 9 km (6 mi)
Sandy Creek 380 m (1,250 ft) Bolinda 9 km (6 mi)
Moonee Ponds Creek 1 m (3 ft 3 in) Yarra 37°45′39″S 144°55′59″E / 37.76083°S 144.93306°E / -37.76083; 144.93306 (Moonee Ponds Creek) 31 km (19 mi)
Kooyong Koot Creek (Gardiners Creek) 12 m (39 ft) Yarra 37°52′18″S 145°05′23″E / 37.87167°S 145.08972°E / -37.87167; 145.08972 (Gardiners Creek) 17 km (11 mi)
Merri Creek 14 m (46 ft) Yarra 37°40′01″S 144°58′35″E / 37.66694°S 144.97639°E / -37.66694; 144.97639 (Merri Creek) 69 km (43 mi)
Darebin Creek 18 m (59 ft) Yarra 37°39′32″S 145°02′08″E / 37.65889°S 145.03556°E / -37.65889; 145.03556 (Darebin Creek) 43 km (27 mi)
Glass Creek Yarra
Koonung Koonung Creek 16 m (52 ft) Yarra 37°47′11″S 145°06′16″E / 37.78639°S 145.10444°E / -37.78639; 145.10444 (Koonung Koonung Creek) 11 km (7 mi)
Salt Creek Yarra 37°44′27″S 145°04′19″E / 37.74083°S 145.07194°E / -37.74083; 145.07194 (Salt Creek)
Banyule Creek Yarra
Plenty River 19 m (62 ft) Yarra 37°36′46″S 145°06′20″E / 37.61278°S 145.10556°E / -37.61278; 145.10556 (Plenty River) 47 km (29 mi)
Barber Creek 169 m (554 ft) Plenty 17 km (11 mi)
Bruces Creek 189 m (620 ft) Plenty 21 km (13 mi)
Scrubby Creek 197 m (646 ft) Plenty 11 km (7 mi)
Ruffey Creek 17 m (56 ft) Yarra 37°46′08″S 145°08′22″E / 37.76889°S 145.13944°E / -37.76889; 145.13944 (Ruffey Creek) 11 km (7 mi)
Kestrel Creek Yarra
Diamond Creek 30 m (98 ft) Yarra 37°37′42″S 145°12′38″E / 37.62833°S 145.21056°E / -37.62833; 145.21056 (Diamond Creek) 11 km (7 mi)
Mullum Mullum Creek 28 m (92 ft) Yarra 37°46′25″S 145°11′21″E / 37.77361°S 145.18917°E / -37.77361; 145.18917 (Mullum Mullum Creek) 11 km (7 mi)
Stony Creek Yarra 37°42′58″S 145°12′30″E / 37.71611°S 145.20833°E / -37.71611; 145.20833 (Stony Creek)
Andersons Creek 17 m (56 ft) Yarra 37°44′59″S 145°12′38″E / 37.74972°S 145.21056°E / -37.74972; 145.21056 (Andersons Creek) 11 km (7 mi)
Parson Gully Yarra
Jumping Creek Yarra 37°45′42″S 145°15′27″E / 37.76167°S 145.25750°E / -37.76167; 145.25750 (Jumping Creek)
Pigeon Bank Gully Yarra 37°42′44″S 145°14′26″E / 37.71222°S 145.24056°E / -37.71222; 145.24056 (Pigeon Bank Gully)
Watsons Creek 47 m (154 ft) Yarra 37°39′08″S 145°18′02″E / 37.65222°S 145.30056°E / -37.65222; 145.30056 (Watsons Creek) 18 km (11 mi)
Brushy Creek 65 m (213 ft) Yarra 37°45′41″S 145°17′45″E / 37.76139°S 145.29583°E / -37.76139; 145.29583 (Brushy Creek) 9 km (6 mi)
Olinda Creek Yarra 37°45′57″S 145°21′17″E / 37.76583°S 145.35472°E / -37.76583; 145.35472 (Olinda Creek)
Steels Creek Yarra 37°37′15″S 145°22′31″E / 37.62083°S 145.37528°E / -37.62083; 145.37528 (Steels Creek)
Pauls Creek 74 m (243 ft) Yarra 37°38′26″S 145°26′02″E / 37.64056°S 145.43389°E / -37.64056; 145.43389 (Pauls Creek) 15 km (9 mi)
Watts River 80 m (260 ft) Yarra 37°37′29″S 145°39′34″E / 37.62472°S 145.65944°E / -37.62472; 145.65944 (Watts River) 29 km (18 mi)
Meyers Creek 92 m (302 ft) Watts 37°35′20″S 145°31′02″E / 37.58889°S 145.51722°E / -37.58889; 145.51722 (Meyers Creek) 9 km (5.6 mi)
Badger Creek Yarra 37°41′14″S 145°35′41″E / 37.68722°S 145.59472°E / -37.68722; 145.59472 (Badger Creek)
Woori Yallock Creek Yarra 37°43′52″S 145°29′53″E / 37.73111°S 145.49806°E / -37.73111; 145.49806 (Woori Yallock Creek)
Ure Creek Yarra 37°45′18″S 145°32′50″E / 37.75500°S 145.54722°E / -37.75500; 145.54722 (Ure Creek)
Hoddles Creek Yarra 37°47′35″S 145°34′54″E / 37.79306°S 145.58167°E / -37.79306; 145.58167 (Hoddles Creek)
Don River Yarra 37°45′20″S 145°35′13″E / 37.75556°S 145.58694°E / -37.75556; 145.58694 (Don River)
Little Yarra River 108 m (354 ft) Yarra 37°50′16″S 145°40′46″E / 37.83778°S 145.67944°E / -37.83778; 145.67944 (Little Yarra River) 24 km (15 mi)
Britannia Creek 123 m (404 ft) Little Yarra 37°47′47″S 145°41′02″E / 37.79639°S 145.68389°E / -37.79639; 145.68389 (Britannia Creek) 11 km (6.8 mi)
Don Creek Yarra 37°45′47″S 145°36′21″E / 37.76306°S 145.60583°E / -37.76306; 145.60583 (Don Creek)
Platts Creek Yarra 37°45′15″S 145°37′15″E / 37.75417°S 145.62083°E / -37.75417; 145.62083 (Platts Creek)
Frenchman Creek Yarra 37°44′23″S 145°37′41″E / 37.73972°S 145.62806°E / -37.73972; 145.62806 (Frenchman Creek)
Yankee Jim Creek Yarra 37°46′21″S 145°39′21″E / 37.77250°S 145.65583°E / -37.77250; 145.65583 (Yankee Jim Creek)
Dee River Yarra 37°44′59″S 145°38′41″E / 37.74972°S 145.64472°E / -37.74972; 145.64472 (Dee River)
Scotchman Creek Yarra
Four Mile Creek Yarra 37°46′03″S 145°42′25″E / 37.76750°S 145.70694°E / -37.76750; 145.70694 (Four Mile Creek)
Pheasant Creek Yarra 37°45′31″S 145°42′52″E / 37.75861°S 145.71444°E / -37.75861; 145.71444 (Pheasant Creek)
Starling Creek Yarra 37°45′56″S 145°43′36″E / 37.76556°S 145.72667°E / -37.76556; 145.72667 (Starling Creek)
Big Pats Creek 171 m (561 ft) Yarra 37°48′22″S 145°45′06″E / 37.80611°S 145.75167°E / -37.80611; 145.75167 (Big Pats Creek) 12 km (7 mi)
Dead Horse Creek Yarra 37°43′39″S 145°45′31″E / 37.72750°S 145.75861°E / -37.72750; 145.75861 (Dead Horse Creek)
Cement Creek Yarra 37°42′50″S 145°44′31″E / 37.71389°S 145.74194°E / -37.71389; 145.74194 (Cement Creek)
Braham Creek Yarra 37°45′11″S 145°47′32″E / 37.75306°S 145.79222°E / -37.75306; 145.79222 (Braham Creek)
McDonald Creek Yarra 37°44′59″S 145°47′49″E / 37.74972°S 145.79694°E / -37.74972; 145.79694 (McDonald Creek)
Crooked Creek Yarra
Starvation Creek 219 m (719 ft) Yarra 37°45′39″S 145°51′16″E / 37.76083°S 145.85444°E / -37.76083; 145.85444 (Starvation Creek) 14 km (9 mi)
McMahons Creek 252 m (827 ft) Yarra 37°42′48″S 145°52′00″E / 37.71333°S 145.86667°E / -37.71333; 145.86667 (McMahons Creek) 14 km (9 mi)
Armstrong Creek 275 m (902 ft) Yarra 37°39′56″S 145°50′58″E / 37.66556°S 145.84944°E / -37.66556; 145.84944 (Armstrong Creek) 13 km (8 mi)
Armstrong Creek East Branch 352 m (1,155 ft) Armstrong 37°37′31″S 145°53′26″E / 37.62528°S 145.89056°E / -37.62528; 145.89056 (Armstrong Creek East Branch) 8 km (5 mi)
Alderman Creek 357 m (1,171 ft) Yarra 37°43′37″S 145°56′45″E / 37.72694°S 145.94583°E / -37.72694; 145.94583 (Alderman Creek) 12 km (7 mi)
Walsh Creek 357 m (1,171 ft) Yarra 37°36′28″S 145°56′52″E / 37.60778°S 145.94778°E / -37.60778; 145.94778 (Walsh Creek) 19 km (12 mi)
Clear Creek 357 m (1,171 ft) Walsh 37°40′15″S 145°58′10″E / 37.67083°S 145.96944°E / -37.67083; 145.96944 (Clear Creek) 12 km (7 mi)
Baker Creek 488 m (1,601 ft) Yarra 37°45′38″S 145°49′14″E / 37.76056°S 145.82056°E / -37.76056; 145.82056 (Baker Creek) 7 km (4 mi)
Woods Creek 532 m (1,745 ft) Yarra 37°43′02″S 146°07′19″E / 37.71722°S 146.12194°E / -37.71722; 146.12194 (Woods Creek) 11 km (7 mi)
Mmbw Channel 775 m (2,543 ft) Yarra 23 km (14 mi)

Geographical features[]

Bolin Bolin Billabong, cut off in 1100 AD, shown here in 2008 at 10-15% its volume.

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. Being a considerably thin river for almost its entire length, there are very few islands or lakes. In the middle reaches there are a few rapids of easy to moderate difficulty, however these are sparsely distributed. Below is a list of the river's geographical features, including tributaries (shown in bold) and man-made features or townships (shown in italics), for bearings (from downstream to upstream):[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Melway, Edition 35, 2008
  2. ^ "Place name search". VICNAMES. State Government of Victoria. Archived from the original on 2014-01-26.
  3. ^ "Gazetteer of Australia Place Name Search". Geoscience Australia. Australian Government.
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