Dandenong Creek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dandenong
Dandenong Creek channeled as an urban stream in Dandenong
Location of the Dandenong Creek mouth in Victoria
Native name	Narra Narrawong, Dandinnong
Other name(s)	Dand-y-non, Tanjenong
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	South East Coastal Plain (IBRA), Greater Melbourne
Local government area	City of Monash
Physical characteristics
Main source	Dandenong Ranges
2nd source	Bungalook Creek near Heathmont 556 m (1,824 ft) 37°50′8″S 145°15′25″E / 37.83556°S 145.25694°E / -37.83556; 145.25694
River mouth	confluence with the Eumemmerring Creek to form the Patterson River southwest of Bangholme 6 m (20 ft) 38°2′37″S 145°10′29″E / 38.04361°S 145.17472°E / -38.04361; 145.17472
Length	53 km (33 mi)
Basin features
River system	Port Phillip catchment
Tributaries	Left: Corhanwarrabul Creek, Blind Creek, Old Joes Creek, Dobsons Creek Right: Mordialloc Creek, Mile Creek, Heatherdale Creek, Bungalook Creek, Little Bungalook Creek

The Dandenong Creek (Aboriginal Bunwurrung: Narra Narrawong or Dandinnong) 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 Bangholme. The creek descends approximately 550 metres (1,800 ft) over its course of 53 kilometres (33 mi).

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 Bayswater. 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

Crossing	Image	Coordinates	Built	Suburb	Description
Old Perry Road
Perry Road
EastLink		2008	Dandenong South	EastLink
Greens Road
Dandenong Bypass		2008
EastLink Trail		2008	Dandenong
Hammond Road
Gippsland Railway bridge		Bridge carrying the Gippsland line over the creek
Lonsdale Street pedestrian bridge		Footbridge over the creek along Lonsdale Street
Lonsdale Street		The crossing of the Princes Highway, locally named Lonsdale Street
Dandenong Creek Trail
Dandenong Park footbridge
McCrae Street
Dandenong Workers Social Club footbridge		Footbridge between the Dandenong Workers Social Club and their golf course
Kidds Road
Heatherton Road		Dandenong North
Monash Freeway
Brady Road
Stud Road
Police Road Retarding Basin		Mulgrave	There is a path along the basin wall, enabling pedestrian crossing of the creek
EastLink			2008
Wellington Road		Rowville

Dandenong Valley Parklands

Dandenong Valley Parklands to Mount Dandenong

Crossing	Image	Coordinates	Built	Suburb	Description
Boronia Road		Vermont
EastLink Trail			Section of the EastLink Trail linking Winton Wetlands with Campbells Croft Reserve
EastLink			2008	Ringwood
Wantirna Road
Marlborough Road footbridge		Heathmont	Footbridge at the end of Marlborough Road
H.E. Parker Reserve footbridge			Footbridge connecting the Dandenong Creek Trail with H.E. Parker Reserve
Belgrave railway line		Bayswater North
Tarralla Creek Trail
Bayswater Road
Dorset Road
Colchester Road		Kilsyth South
Liverpool Road Retarding Basin wall		Boronia	Path along basin wall provides crossing over the creek
Liverpool Road Retarding Basin footbridge			Footbridge inside the retarding basin provides crossing over the creek
Liverpool Road		The Basin
Dobson Lane			Dobson Lane
Pavitt Lane		Kilsyth
Sheffield Road
Edgar Track		Mount Dandenong
Doongalla Forest access road
Dandenong Creek Track		Olinda