Kororoit Creek

Kororoit
Creek[1]
The Kororoit Creek in Albion
Name origin: Aboriginal (Woiwurrung): creek on western plain[2]
Country Australia
State Victoria
Regions Victorian Midlands (IBRA), Greater Melbourne
Local government areas Melton, Brimbank
Part of Port Phillip catchment
Tributaries
 - left Jones Creek (Cairnlea, Victoria)
Suburbs Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Kings Park, Albanvale, Deer Park, Cairnlea, West Sunshine, Ardeer, Albion, Brooklyn, Altona North
Source Mount Kororoit
 - location northeast of Melton
 - elevation 160 m (525 ft)
 - coordinates 37°38′21″S 144°39′25″E / 37.63917°S 144.65694°E
Mouth Altona Bay, Port Phillip
 - location Altona North
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
 - coordinates 37°51′46″S 144°52′12″E / 37.86278°S 144.87000°ECoordinates: 37°51′46″S 144°52′12″E / 37.86278°S 144.87000°E
Length 52 km (32.3 mi)
National parks Altona Coastal Park, Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Park
Contour map of the Kororoit Creek and its tributaries, in Greater Melbourne.
Wikimedia Commons: Kororoit Creek
[1][3]

The Kororoit Creek is a watercourse of the Port Phillip catchment, rising in the outer north western suburbs of Melbourne, in the Australian state of Victoria.

Location and features

Kororoit Creek in West Sunshine.

The Kororoit Creek rises below Mount Kororoit, northeast of Melton in the north western outer suburbs of Melbourne. The creek's headwaters are north of Sunbury at approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) above sea level in ordovician geology. The creek flows generally south by east and passes over the volcanic lava plain of western Melbourne to its mouth at sea level, north of Altona and emptying into Altona Bay within Port Phillip. The creek is joined by one minor tributary as it descends approximately 160 metres (520 ft) over its 52-metre (171 ft) course.[3] At the outlet in Altona Bay, the creek winds its way through the Altona Coastal Park and then the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Park, where it enters Port Phillip.

From east of Sunbury, the Kororoit Creek makes its way down through many suburbs towards its mouth, including the towns and suburbs of Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Kings Park, Albanvale, Deer Park, Cairnlea, West Sunshine, Ardeer, Albion, Brooklyn and Altona North.

The creek is traversed by the Melton Highway, east of Melton; the Western Highway and the Western Ring Road, at Ardeer; and the West Gate Freeway at Brooklyn. The Kororoit Creek Trail runs along the banks in the lower reaches of the creek.

History

The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the creek are the Wurundjeri people who had hunted, fished and camped along the creek for thousands of years. Aboriginal occupation is evident in the form of many scattered artefacts along the creek. Scar trees, where canoes were carved from the bark of the red gums, are dotted along the creek.

European explorers, James Flemming and Charles Grimes identified the Kororoit Creek in 1803, along with the Maribyrnong River and Yarra River.

The Brooklyn Bluestone Bridge was built over the Kororoit Creek at Brooklyn in the 1860s. The bridge was built using bluestone from the local area and still stands. The bridge was one of the first crossings built for gold diggers heading to the gold fields of Ballarat.[4]

Etymology

Kororoit is an Aboriginal word of the Woiwurrung language that has been used to describe the "creek on (the) western plain";[2] with an alternate theory that claims the word to mean a "male kangaroo".[4]

Fauna

The creek is home to significant animal species such as the growling grass frog and the striped legless lizard, as well as migratory birds. Remnant native vegetation also survives in some places, including red river gum and white mangroves. Small parks are located on the east and west borders along the creek. Native reptiles, including tiger snake, eastern blue-tongued lizard, common snakeneck turtle and eastern brown snake were often seen along the creek. Unfortunately due to overdevelopment these species are now rarely seen in some areas. Reptiles found along the creek help to maintain the balance of the populations of small mammals such as water rats and mice that thrive along the banks of the creek. Native species of frogs have taken advantage and reclaimed residences in the new (man-made) wetlands and lakes. The eastern banjo frog, common eastern froglet and even the now endangered growling grass frog have been seen and heard in the new wetlands and around Kororoit Creek, particularly in Cairnlea.[5]

Aquatic species found in the creek include the common galaxias, short-finned eel, Australian smelt, tupong, common carp, eastern bluespot goby, and flathead gudgeon.

Bird species found adjacent to the creek include the Australasian darter, little pied cormorant, brown falcon, peregrine falcon, square-tailed kite, dusky moorhen, royal spoonbill, black swan, Pacific black duck, mallard, Australian wood duck, galah, rainbow lorikeet, white-faced heron, Australian white ibis, and wattlebird.

Both the river blackfish and the platypus are native species that are now believed to be extinct along creek's course.

Common introduced species that can be found adjacent to the creek include the red fox and the European rabbit.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kororoit Creek: 19025". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kororoit Creek: 19025: Historical information". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Map of Kororoit Creek, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "History". Friends of the Kororoit Creek. January 2008.
  5. ↑ "Kororoit Creek Regional Strategy 2005 - 2030". Victorian Government Land Channel. Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development. January 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2009.

External links