Glass Creek facts for kids

Glass Creek is a small waterway that flows through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It's like a little helper stream for the bigger Yarra River. Today, much of Glass Creek actually flows underground through a system of pipes and drains!

Why is it Called Glass Creek?

Glass Creek got its name from a man named Hugh Glass in 1844. He was someone who bought and sold land a long time ago when Melbourne was just starting. At first, people called it "Glass' Creek," but over time, the 's' was dropped, and it became "Glass Creek" as we know it today.

What Lives in Glass Creek?

Because Glass Creek has faced some pollution, it doesn't have a lot of different animals living in it. However, you can still find some plants, and even a few fish and crayfish! Some of the creatures that manage to live there include the western mosquitofish and a type of freshwater crayfish called a Cherax (also known as a yabby).

Where Does Glass Creek Flow?

Suburbs it Passes Through

Glass Creek flows through two eastern suburbs of Melbourne, which are part of the City of Boroondara:

• Kew East
• Balwyn North

Parks Along the Creek

Even though much of the creek is now underground, many parks and open spaces follow its old path. These green areas are great places for people to visit and enjoy nature:

• Jacka Street Reserve
• Gordon Barnard Reserve
• Hislop Park
• Macleay/Myrtle Park
• Stradbroke Park
• Hays Paddock
• Kew Billabong Reserve

History of Glass Creek

A long time ago, when Melbourne was first being settled by Europeans and when Indigenous people lived in the area, Glass Creek flowed openly through bushland. The first recorded owner of the land where Glass Creek meets the Yarra River was William Oswin. His property was called Kilby Farm.

In 1943, there was a suggestion to put the northern part of the creek underground. This idea came from W.D. Birrell, who worked for the City of Kew. However, this plan wasn't carried out at that time. We don't know the exact date when the rest of the creek was put into underground drains. But, a map from the 1960s shows that the creek was already flowing into a drain near the southern entrance of Hays Paddock by then.

The Creek's Original Path

The original route of Glass Creek through North Balwyn and East Kew before it was placed underground some time in the 1960s.

The original path of Glass Creek started near Loma Linda Grove in Greythorn, which is in the eastern part of Balwyn North. It flowed through what are now Jacka Street and Gordon Barnard Reserves. Then it crossed Balwyn Road and went through Hislop and Macleay/Myrtle Park. After that, it followed residential areas near Maylands Avenue and went through Stradbroke Park, close to Kew High School. It then flowed under High Street and along what is now the Glass Creek Trail. Finally, it joined up with its current course near the southern entrance to Hays Paddock, before flowing north-west into the Yarra River.