Geography of the Yarra River

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 first name that the Indigenous Australians gave it.

Tributaries

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″S144°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		circa5 km (3 mi)
	Maribyrnong River						1 m (3 ft 3 in)	Yarra	37°45′19″S144°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″S144°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″S144°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″S145°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″S144°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°15′27″E / 37.76167°S 145.25750°E / -37.76167; 145.25750 (Jumping Creek)
	Pigeon Bank Gully							Yarra	37°42′44″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°21′17″E / 37.76583°S 145.35472°E / -37.76583; 145.35472 (Olinda Creek)
	Steels Creek							Yarra	37°37′15″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°35′41″E / 37.68722°S 145.59472°E / -37.68722; 145.59472 (Badger Creek)
	Woori Yallock Creek							Yarra	37°43′52″S145°29′53″E / 37.73111°S 145.49806°E / -37.73111; 145.49806 (Woori Yallock Creek)
	Ure Creek							Yarra	37°45′18″S145°32′50″E / 37.75500°S 145.54722°E / -37.75500; 145.54722 (Ure Creek)
	Hoddles Creek							Yarra	37°47′35″S145°34′54″E / 37.79306°S 145.58167°E / -37.79306; 145.58167 (Hoddles Creek)
	Don River							Yarra	37°45′20″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°36′21″E / 37.76306°S 145.60583°E / -37.76306; 145.60583 (Don Creek)
	Platts Creek							Yarra	37°45′15″S145°37′15″E / 37.75417°S 145.62083°E / -37.75417; 145.62083 (Platts Creek)
	Frenchman Creek							Yarra	37°44′23″S145°37′41″E / 37.73972°S 145.62806°E / -37.73972; 145.62806 (Frenchman Creek)
	Yankee Jim Creek							Yarra	37°46′21″S145°39′21″E / 37.77250°S 145.65583°E / -37.77250; 145.65583 (Yankee Jim Creek)
	Dee River							Yarra	37°44′59″S145°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″S145°42′25″E / 37.76750°S 145.70694°E / -37.76750; 145.70694 (Four Mile Creek)
	Pheasant Creek							Yarra	37°45′31″S145°42′52″E / 37.75861°S 145.71444°E / -37.75861; 145.71444 (Pheasant Creek)
	Starling Creek							Yarra	37°45′56″S145°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″S145°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″S145°45′31″E / 37.72750°S 145.75861°E / -37.72750; 145.75861 (Dead Horse Creek)
	Cement Creek							Yarra	37°42′50″S145°44′31″E / 37.71389°S 145.74194°E / -37.71389; 145.74194 (Cement Creek)
	Braham Creek							Yarra	37°45′11″S145°47′32″E / 37.75306°S 145.79222°E / -37.75306; 145.79222 (Braham Creek)
	McDonald Creek							Yarra	37°44′59″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S145°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″S146°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]

• Entrance to Yarra River in Hobsons Bay
• West Gate Bridge
• Stony Creek
• Maribyrnong River
• Coode Island (created in 1880s)
• Fishermans Bend (created in 1880s)
• Moonee Ponds Creek
• Victoria Harbour (created in 1892)
• Batman's Hill (levelled in mid-19th century)
• Turning Basin
• Melbourne CBD
• Princes Bridge
• Birrarung Marr
• Ornamental Lake
• Punt Hill
• Herring Island
• Burnley Harbour and Wetlands
• Gardiners Creek
• Burnley Bend
• Hawthorn
• Yarra Bend (Ends)
• Dights Falls
• Merri Creek
• Galatea Point
• Studley Park Boathouse
• Flying Fox Lookout
• Fairfield Boathouse
• Yarra Bend (Begins)
• Johnston Street Bridge
• Kew Billabong
• Darebin Creek
• Glass Creek
• Turner Street, Abbotsford

Yarra Flats (Ends)

• Koonung Creek
• Bolin Bolin Billabong (cut off in 1100)
• Annulus Billabong
• Salt Creek
• Sills Bend
• Heidelberg
• Yarra Flats (Begins)
• Banyule Creek
• Banyule Flats and Billabongs
• Plenty River
• Templestowe
• Ruffey Creek
• Kestrel Creek
• Westerfolds Rapids
• Fitzsimons Lane Bridge
• Diamond Creek
• Sweeneys Flats
• Mullum Mullum Creek
• Tikalara
• Pound Bend (Ends)
• Bobs Wetlands
• Pound Bend Tunnel
• Stony Creek
• Pound Bend (Begins)
• Andersons Creek
• Fourth Hill
• Whipstick Gully
• Warrandyte
• Scotchmans Hill
• The Island
• Parson Gully
• Black Flat
• Jumping Creek
• Blue Tongue Bend
• Warrandyte Gorge
• Pigeon Bank Gully
• Kangaroo Ground Rapids
• Watsons Creek
• Bend of Isles
• Moniques Island
• Brushy Creek
• Mount Lofty
• Bob's Rock
• Canoe Slalom Rapids
• Christmas Hills Rapids
• Yering Gorge
• Yering Billabongs
• Olinda Creek
• Yarra Glen
• Yarra Flats Billabongs
• Steels Creek
• Coldstream Flats and Billabongs
• Pauls Creek
• Healesville
• Watts River
• Badger Creek
• Warramate Hills
• Woori Yallock Creek
• Woori Yallock Flats and Billabong
• Ure Creek
• Launching Place
• Hoddles Creek
• Don River
• Little Yarra River
• Don Creek
• Yarra Junction
• Don Creek
• Platts Creek
• Frenchman Creek
• Yankee Jim Creek
• Dee River
• Scotchmans Creek
• Warburton
• Four Mile Creek
• Pheasant Creek
• Starling Creek
• Big Pats Creek
• Dead Horse Creek
• Cement Creek
• Braham Creek
• McDonald Creek
• Crooked Creek
• Starvation Creek
• Little Peninsula Tunnel
• Big Peninsula Tunnel
• McMahons Creek
• Upper Yarra Dam
• Upper Yarra Reservoir (created in 1957)
• Armstrong Creek
• Alderman Creek
• Walsh Creek
• Baker Creek
• Woods Creek
• Mmbw Channel

See also

• Geology of Victoria
• Crossings of the Yarra River

References

1. 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.