Dandenong Creek

Dandenong (Narra Narrawong,[1] Dandinnong[2])
Dand-y-non, Tanjenong[1]
Creek[3]
Dandenong Creek channeled as an urban stream in Dandenong
Name origin: Aboriginal Bunwurrung: "high" or "lofty"[1]
Country Australia
State Victoria
Regions South East Coastal Plain (IBRA), Greater Melbourne
Local government area City of Monash
Part of Port Phillip catchment
Tributaries
 - left Corhanwarrabul Creek, Blind Creek, Old Joes Creek, Dobsons Creek
 - right Mordialloc Creek, Mile Creek, Heatherdale Creek, Bungalook Creek, Little Bungalook Creek
Primary source Dandenong Ranges
Secondary source Bungalook Creek
 - location near Heathmont
 - elevation 556 m (1,824 ft)
 - coordinates 37°50′8″S 145°15′25″E / 37.83556°S 145.25694°E / -37.83556; 145.25694
Mouth confluence with the Eumemmerring Creek to form the Patterson River
 - location southwest of Bangholme
 - elevation 6 m (20 ft)
 - coordinates 38°2′37″S 145°10′29″E / 38.04361°S 145.17472°E / -38.04361; 145.17472Coordinates: 38°2′37″S 145°10′29″E / 38.04361°S 145.17472°E / -38.04361; 145.17472
Length 53 km (33 mi)
Location of the Dandenong Creek mouth in Victoria
[3][4]

The Dandenong Creek (Aboriginal Bunwurrung: Narra Narrawong[1] or Dandinnong[2]) is an urban creek[3] of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the eastern and south-eastern Greater Melbourne region of the Australian state of Victoria.

Location and features

Dandenong Creek has its headwaters in the Dandenong Ranges near Olinda, within the Dandenong Ranges National Park and is sourced by downstream flows from the Bungalook Creek. The creek flows generally south by southwest, joined by the Corhanwarrabul Creek, before reaching its confluence with the Eumemmerring Creek to form the man-made Patterson River southwest of Bangholme. The creek descends approximately 550 metres (1,800 ft) over its course of 53 kilometres (33 mi).[1]

The health of the creek in these urban areas ranges from moderate to very poor and has been the focus of a number of clean-up campaigns in recent years.[5]

The creek is also the home of one of the largest remaining populations of Yarra Gum.[6]

A bike path known as the Dandenong Creek Trail runs alongside for a significant distance. It also has an industrial wastewater course joining onto it in Bayswater known as Old Joe's Creek, where a bad smell occurs.

Etymology

The traditional custodians of the land surrounding what is now known as the Dandenong Creek were the indigenous Bunurong people of the Kulin nation who referred to the creek as Narra Narrawong; while others gave the creek the name Dandenong, sometimes spelled as Dand-y-non or Tanjenong by early settlers, believed to mean "high" or "lofty".[1]

History

The first European to see the creek near its source was in 1839 and is believed to be Daniel Bunce, a botanist.[1]

Creek crossings

The list below notes current bridges that cross over the Dandenong Creek. Some are road and rail bridges, whilst others are pedestrian and equestrian crossings.

Patterson River to Dandenong Valley Parklands

CrossingImageCoordinatesBuiltLocationDescriptionNotes
Old Perry RoadBangholmeRuins of old Perry Road bridge over Dandenong Creek
Perry RoadPerry Road
EastLink2008Dandenong SouthEastLink
Greens RoadGreens Road
Dandenong Bypass2008Dandenong Bypass
EastLink Trail2008DandenongEastLink Trail
Hammond RoadHammond Road
Gippsland Railway bridgeBridge carrying the Gippsland line over the creek
Lonsdale Street pedestrian bridgeFootbridge over the creek along Lonsdale Street
Lonsdale StreetThe crossing of the Princes Highway, locally named Lonsdale Street.
Dandenong Creek TrailDandenong Creek Trail
Dandenong Park footbridge
McCrae StreetMcCrae Street
Dandenong Workers Social Club footbridgeFootbridge between the Dandenong Workers Social Club and their golf course.
Kidds RoadKidds Road
Heatherton RoadDandenong NorthHeatherton Road
Monash FreewayMonash Freeway
Brady RoadBrady Road
Stud RoadStud Road
Police Road Retarding BasinMulgraveThere is a path along the basin wall, enabling pedestrian crossing of the creek.
EastLink2008EastLink
Wellington RoadRowvilleWellington Road

Dandenong Valley Parklands

CrossingImageCoordinatesBuiltLocationDescriptionNotes
Dandenong Valley wetland trail2010ScoresbyShared path over the creek.
Ferntree Gully RoadFerntree Gully Road
EastLink Trail2008EastLink Trail
Dandenong Creek trailDandenong Creek Trail
Patterson's BridgeWantirna SouthDandenong Creek Trail.
High Street Road footbridgeFootbridge linking Napier Park with Nortons Park.
High Street RoadHigh Street Road
Burwood HighwayVermont SouthBurwood Highway
Dandenong Creek TrailDandenong Creek Trail

Dandenong Valley Parklands to Mount Dandenong

CrossingImageCoordinatesBuiltLocationDescriptionNotes
Boronia RoadVermontBoronia Road
EastLink TrailSection of the EastLink Trail linking Winton Wetlands with Campbells Croft Reserve.
EastLink2008RingwoodEastLink
Wantirna RoadWantirna Road
Marlborough Road footbridgeHeathmontFootbridge at the end of Marlborough Road.
H.E. Parker Reserve footbridgeFootbridge connecting the Dandenong Creek Trail with H.E. Parker Reserve.
Belgrave Railway LineBayswater NorthBelgrave Railway Line
Tarralla Creek TrailTarralla Creek Trail
Bayswater RoadBayswater Road
Dorset RoadDorset Road
Colchester RoadKilsyth SouthColchester Road
Liverpool Road Retarding Basin wallBoroniaPath along basin wall provides crossing over the creek.
Liverpool Road Retarding Basin footbridgeFootbridge inside the retarding basin provides crossing over the creek.
Liverpool RoadThe BasinLiverpool Road
Dobson LaneDobson Lane
Pavitt LaneKilsythPavitt Lane
Sheffield RoadSheffield Road
Edgar TrackMount DandenongEdgar Track
Doongalla Forest access roadDoongalla Forest access road.
Dandenong Creek TrackOlindaDandenong Creek Track

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Snapshot of Dandenong Creek" (PDF). Fact sheet. Melbourne Water. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Dandenong Creek: 13888: Historical information". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Dandenong Creek: 13888". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Map of Dandenong Creek, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Dandenong Creek". Rivers and Creeks. Melbourne Water. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  6. ↑ "Flora and Fauna: Significant Plant Species". Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  • Returning Dandenong Creek project
  • First Friends of Dandenong Creek website
  • "Info sourced on place names in the area". Knox Historical Society. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012.
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