Yarra River

The Yarra River is also known as the Yarra Yarra River, Aboriginal: Berrern, Birr-arrung, Bay-ray-rung, Birarang. Birrarung, and Wongete). The Yarra River is a perennial river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The river flows from its source in the Yarra Ranges 242 kilometres (150 mi) west through the Yarra Valley. The river opens out into plains as it winds its way through Greater Melbourne. It then empties into Hobsons Bay in northernmost Port Phillip.

Yarra Berrern Birr-arrung Wongete Yarro-yarro
The Yarra River through Pound Bend near Warrandyte.
Location of the mouth of the Yarra River in Victoria
Etymology	Bunwurrung (Indigenous Australian): Yarro-yarro, "ever-flowing"
Nickname(s)	The Yarra
Location
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	South Eastern Highlands (IBRA), Central Victoria
LGA	City of Hobsons Bay City of Port Phillip City of Melbourne City of Yarra City of Darebin City of Boroondara City of Banyule City of Manningham Shire of Nillumbik Yarra Ranges Shire
City	Melbourne
Physical characteristics
Source	Yarra Ranges, Great Dividing Range
- location	within Yarra Ranges National Park
- coordinates	37°44′57″S 146°8′26″E
- elevation	792 m (2,598 ft)
Mouth	Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip
- location	near the suburb of Port Melbourne
- coordinates	37°51′7″S 144°54′30″E
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	242 km (150 mi)
Basin size	4,078 km2 (1,575 sq mi)50%
Discharge
- location	mouth
- average	37 m3/s (1,300 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system	Port Phillip and Western Port catchment
Tributaries
- left	Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds Creek, Merri Creek, Darebin Creek, Plenty River, Diamond Creek, Steeles Creek, Watts River, Badger Creek, Don River, Cement Creek, O'Shannassy River
- right	Gardiners Creek, Glass Creek, Koonung Creek, Mullum Mullum Creek, Jumping Creek, Olinda Creek, Woori Yallock Creek, Hoddles Creek, Little Yarra River, Starvation Creek
National park	Yarra Ranges NP, Royal Botanic Gardens

The river was a major food source for indigenous Australians during prehistoric times. It also served as a meeting place during those times. The river was first called Birrarung by the Wurundjeri. The current name was translated wrong from another Wurundjeri term in the Boonwurrung language; Yarro-yarro, meaning "ever-flowing".

The river was used for agriculture by early European settlers. The landscape of the river has changed since 1835. The course of the river has been changed and widened in places. Widening and dams, like the Upper Yarra Reservoir have helped protect Melbourne from major flooding. Industrialisation led to the destruction of the marshlands at the joining of the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers in the area around Coode Island in West Melbourne. The yearly Moomba festival celebrates the Yarra River's meaning to Melbourne.

Other websites

• The Yarra River