Saleyards Creek facts for kids

Saleyards Creek is a special waterway in Sydney, Australia. It's like a long, narrow river that helps carry away stormwater (rainwater). It flows through areas like Homebush and Homebush West.

What is Saleyards Creek?

Saleyards Creek starts near Rookwood Cemetery in Strathfield. It flows mostly north, acting as a border between Homebush and Homebush West.

The creek flows through a hidden tunnel under the Sydney Markets in Flemington. After that, it comes out into the open. It then goes under busy roads like Parramatta Road and the M4 Western Motorway. If you drive west on the M4, you might even spot a sign showing where the creek passes underneath!

North of the M4 motorway, the creek is entirely within the suburb of Homebush. It eventually joins another creek called Powells Creek at Bressington Park. Powells Creek then flows a short distance further into Homebush Bay.

Today, Saleyards Creek has concrete sides along its whole length. This helps control the water flow. However, in places like Airey Park and Bressington Park, there are trees planted along the creek. Since the creek mostly gets its water from rain, it can become a small trickle during dry weather.

Long ago, in the 1800s, the southern part of Saleyards Creek was used as a boundary. This boundary helped divide land for ownership records. Because of this, Homebush is mostly in one area called the Parish of Concord. The nearby area of Homebush West (also known as Flemington) is in a different area called the Parish of Liberty Plains. The creek also marks a boundary between two larger regions of Sydney.

History of the Creek

Saleyards Creek gets its name from the Flemington cattle saleyards. These were big markets where cattle were bought and sold, and they started in 1909.

The creek was once a natural stream. But in the 1930s, it was changed into a canal by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board. This project was partly done to create jobs during the Great Depression, a time when many people were out of work.

Later, in the 1970s, the old cattle saleyards were rebuilt and became the Sydney Markets. The part of the creek that flows through these markets was then covered over to make a culvert (an underground pipe or channel).

What About Nature?

Changing the creek into a canal has affected the nearby wetlands. Wetlands are special areas of land that are often wet, like swamps. The changes have impacted the saltiness and pollution levels in these areas.

Sometimes, silt (fine dirt and sand) builds up in the creek from stormwater flows. This silt can be a good place for birds like ducks and gulls to find food. However, too much silt can block the water flow. So, sometimes the silt needs to be removed to keep the water moving freely.