Dandenong Creek

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.

For other uses of the name Dandenong, see Dandenong (disambiguation).

Dandenong
Dand-y-non, Tanjenong[1]
Dandenong Creek channeled as an urban stream in Dandenong
Location of the Dandenong Creek mouth in Victoria
EtymologyAboriginal Bunwurrung: "high" or "lofty"[1]
Native nameNarra Narrawong,[1] Dandinnong[2]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionSouth East Coastal Plain (IBRA), Greater Melbourne
Local government areaCity of Monash
Physical characteristics
SourceDandenong Ranges
2nd sourceBungalook Creek
 • locationnear Heathmont
 • coordinates37°50′8″S 145°15′25″E
 • elevation556 m (1,824 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Eumemmerring Creek to form the Patterson River
 • location
southwest of Bangholme
 • coordinates
38°2′37″S 145°10′29″E
 • elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Length53 km (33 mi)
Basin features
River systemPort Phillip catchment
Tributaries 
 • leftCorhanwarrabul Creek, Blind Creek, Old Joes Creek, Dobsons Creek
 • rightMordialloc Creek, Mile Creek, Heatherdale Creek, Bungalook Creek, Little Bungalook Creek
[3][4]

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.

An industrial wastewater stream known as Old Joes Creek flows into Dandenong Creek, with its confluence in Bayswater.[7] This drain runs underground for much of its course, running in a westerly direction and servicing several industrial estates in the catchment of Dandenong Creek.[8] The tributary is commonly polluted with heavy metals, and authorities have made several attempts to prevent pollution which spreads downstream into Dandenong Creek.[9][10]

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
CrossingImageCoordinatesBuiltSuburbDescription
Old Perry RoadBangholmeRuins of old Perry Road bridge over Dandenong Creek
Perry Road
EastLink2008Dandenong SouthEastLink
Greens Road
Dandenong Bypass2008
EastLink Trail2008Dandenong
Hammond 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 Trail
Dandenong Park footbridge
McCrae Street
Dandenong Workers Social Club footbridgeFootbridge between the Dandenong Workers Social Club and their golf course
Kidds Road
Heatherton RoadDandenong North
Monash Freeway
Brady Road
Stud Road
Police Road Retarding BasinMulgraveThere is a path along the basin wall, enabling pedestrian crossing of the creek
EastLink2008
Wellington RoadRowville

Dandenong Valley Parklands
CrossingImageCoordinatesBuiltSuburbDescription
Dandenong Valley wetland trail2010ScoresbyShared path over the creek
Ferntree Gully Road
EastLink Trail2008
Dandenong Creek Trail
Patterson's BridgeWantirna SouthPart of Dandenong Creek Trail
High Street Road footbridgeFootbridge linking Napier Park with Nortons Park
High Street
Burwood HighwayVermont South
Dandenong Creek Trail

Dandenong Valley Parklands to Mount Dandenong
CrossingImageCoordinatesBuiltSuburbDescription
Boronia RoadVermont
EastLink TrailSection of the EastLink Trail linking Winton Wetlands with Campbells Croft Reserve
EastLink2008Ringwood
Wantirna 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 North
Tarralla Creek Trail
Bayswater Road
Dorset Road
Colchester RoadKilsyth South
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 Basin
Dobson LaneDobson Lane
Pavitt LaneKilsyth
Sheffield Road
Edgar TrackMount Dandenong
Doongalla Forest access road
Dandenong Creek TrackOlinda

See also

References
  1. "Snapshot of Dandenong Creek" (PDF). Fact sheet. Melbourne Water. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  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. "Dandenong Creek: 13888". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. 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. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  6. "Flora and Fauna: Significant Plant Species". Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  7. "Old Joes Creek gets a makeover". BehaviourWorks Australia. Monash Sustainable Development Institute. 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  8. Frame, Joanna; Coleman, Rhys; Moore, Trivess (August 2005). "Waterway assessment in the Dandenong Valley Catchment: Water quality in Upper Dandenong Creek and associated tributaries". Melbourne Water Corporation. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. "EPA fines Bayswater company over $7500". Environment Protection Authority Victoria. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  10. "Pollution Detection and Prevention". Melbourne Water. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
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