Kororoit Creek

__NOTOC__MelbourneBikePath
NAME=Kororoit Creek
CITY=Melbourne
STATE=vic


DESCRIPTION=Kororoit Creek in West Sunshine
LGA=City of Brimbank
POSTCODE=3021
LENGTH=45km
DIFFICULTY=Easy
TRAIN=

Kororoit Creek is a major waterway, over 45 km in length north-west of Melbourne.

Its headwaters are north of Sunbury composed of Ordovician geology and 400m a.s.l. Flowing south it passes over a volcanic lava plain from 300m to sea level east of Altona.

History

James Flemming & Charles Grimes identified the Kororoit Creek in 1803 along with the Maribyrnong River and Yarra River. At the time it was the home of the Wurundjeri Aboriginal tribe 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.

The name "Kororoit" is thought to have come from an Aboriginal word meaning "male kangaroo" although this has not been confirmed.cite web
url=http://www.folkc.com.au/
publisher = Friends of the Kororoit Creek
title=History
date=January 2008

Historic site

The Brooklyn Bluestone Bridge was built over Kororoit Creek using bluestone quarried from the local area. This magnificent bridge, built during the 1860s, still stands today and was one of the first crossings built for the gold diggers heading to Ballarat.cite web
url=http://www.folkc.com.au/
publisher=Friends of the Kororoit Creek
title=History
date=January 2008

Length

Starting on the eastern side of Sunbury the creek makes its way down through many suburbs such as Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Kings Park, Albanvale, Deer Park, Cairnlea, Ardeer, Albion, Brooklyn, Altona North and Sunshine.

The outlet of Kororoit Creek is in Altona at the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Park, where it enters Port Phillip Bay

The Kororoit Creek Trail runs along the banks in the lower reaches of the creek.

Fauna

Herpetofauna

The Creek is home to significant animal species such as the Growling Grass Frog and the Striped Legless Lizard, as well as internationally recognised 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 residents 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.cite web
url=http://www.land.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpl.nsf/childdocs/-3AFDBF77580D7A93CA256D19002583CC-61DB05651B914876CA2572CE001017A1-AC00A6BE75CD000BCA2572DA007FE311-9DC1F4DE4B003185CA2572DA007FFC1B?open] Kororoit Creek Land Dept Victoria
publisher=Victoria Land
title=Fuana
date=January 2008

Fish

Common galaxias, Short-finned eel, Australian smelt, Tupong

Birds

Little Pied Cormorant, Brown Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Square-tailed Kite, Royal Spoonbill, Black Swan, Pacific Black Duck, Mallard, Australian Wood Duck, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Wattlebird

pecies extinct along creek

* River blackfish
* Platypus

pecies introduced along creek

* Red Fox
* European Rabbit

ee also

* Kororoit Creek Trail

Gallery

References / Links

* [http://www.folkc.com.au/ Friends of the Kororoit Creek]
* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sunshine/sunshine.htm Rotary Club Sunshine History]
* [http://www.land.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpl.nsf/childdocs/-3AFDBF77580D7A93CA256D19002583CC-61DB05651B914876CA2572CE001017A1-AC00A6BE75CD000BCA2572DA007FE311-9DC1F4DE4B003185CA2572DA007FFC1B?open Kororoit Creek Land Dept Victoria]
* [http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/rivers_and_creeks/our_rivers_and_creeks/kororoit.asp Melbourne Water Kororoit Creek Report]
* [http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_id=2050 Hobsons Bay Kororoit Creek Report]
* [http://www.katandragardens.com.au/birdlist.html Native birds of Melbourne Australia]
* Waterway Report 1999 Port Phillip & Western Port Catchments
* Kororoit Creek Regional Strategy 2005 - 2030 ; PARKS VICTORIA