Dandenong Creek


The Dandenong Creek is an urban creek of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the eastern and south-eastern Greater Melbourne region of the Australian state of Victoria.

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. The creek descends approximately over its course of.
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.
The creek is also the home of one of the largest remaining populations of Yarra Gum.
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. 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. The tributary is commonly polluted with heavy metals, and authorities have made several attempts to prevent pollution which spreads downstream into Dandenong Creek.

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".

History

The first European to see the creek near its source was in 1839 and is believed to be Daniel Bunce, a botanist.

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

Dandenong Valley Parklands

Dandenong Valley Parklands to Mount Dandenong