Maribyrnong River
The Maribyrnong River’s journey begins near the country town of Lancefield. After passing through market gardens near Tullamarine Airport, it makes its way through Keilor, Essendon, Footscray and Yarraville, eventually meeting the Yarra River near Westgate Bridge. For some time the river was called Saltwater River.
- The river’s traditional owners are the Woimurrung and Boonwurrung tribes. It is believed that ‘Maribyrnong’ means ‘I can hear a ringtail possum’.
- The State Government rates its water quality, habitat and stability as ‘good’, its aquatic life as ‘moderate’ and its vegetation and flow as ‘poor’.
- As the second major river in metropolitan Melbourne, the Maribyrnong has played an important part in Melbourne’s cultural, agricultural and industrial developments as well as featuring prominently in the city’s recreational pursuits.
- The river has been granted an additional 3 GL per year by the Victorian government’s Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
People who love and depend on the Maribyrnong River have many memories and insights to share – of recreational past-times and and how connecting people with nature in fact protects it.
Take a minute and explore the Maribyrnong River through the eyes of these river champions…
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Alan Haynes
Standing on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, there is a good chance that you might see the slim, blade-like hull of a rowing boat slicing its way through the calm currents...
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Brimbank Park
Growing up in Essendon, the Maribyrnong was always part of the scenery, part of the environment...
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Libby McKinnon
“I fell in love with the Maribyrnong valley.” Libby McKinnon glances around excitedly at the river. “I went for a drive along it one day...
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The Flow Project
The Flow project was a multi-artform project which explores the social, cultural, environmental, poetic, and spiritual resonances and context of the Maribyrnong river...
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Jim Jorchel
Jim Jorchel has lived in Avondale Heights, close to the Maribyrnong River, for nearly fifty years. He moved there soon after emigrating from Berlin...more
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Clare Boyd-Macrae
I am lucky enough to work at a place where I can walk by a river every day, and I do. Three or four times a week I spend my lunch...
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Peter Somerville
Captain Peter Somerville doesn’t mince words. “Welcome to the Maribyrnong,” he says. “Melbourne has another river, the Yarra, but that’s only a tributary.”... more
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Huu Tran
Huu learnt to swim in a time-honoured way. When he was about eight, a few of his friends playfully pushed him into the water. He quickly learnt to swim. Like an eel!...
Other Greater Melbourne Rivers
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