West Melbourne Swamp facts for kids

The West Melbourne Swamp, also known as Batman's Swamp, was a large area of saltwater wetlands located west of Melbourne, Victoria. This important natural space was drained starting around 1890. It was transformed into a canal, the end point for Moonee Ponds Creek, railway yards, and some of Melbourne's shipping docks, including Appleton Dock.

What Was the West Melbourne Swamp?

The West Melbourne Swamp was a big wetland filled with saltwater. It was a significant part of the landscape west of Melbourne. For thousands of years, this swamp was a vital resource for Aboriginal people living in the area. They used it for food, water, and other necessities.

Early Discoveries and Descriptions

The first European to see the swamp was a surveyor named Charles Grimes. He observed it in 1803 while exploring Port Phillip Bay. Later, the swamp became known as Batman's Swamp. This name came from John Batman, an early settler who built his home nearby in 1836.

People described the swamp as a beautiful place. In 1912, George Gordon McCrae remembered it from 1841 as "a real lake, intensely blue, nearly oval, and full of the clearest salt water." Others noted that the lagoon had a solid blue clay bottom and was at the same level as high tide. The land around it was about one metre higher.

Why Was the Swamp Drained?

Ideas about draining the swamp began in the mid-1800s. However, the actual work didn't start seriously until around 1877. An engineer named William Thwaites (engineer) from the Public Works Department in Victoria was in charge of the project.

How the Drainage Happened

The drainage process involved setting up a steam-powered pump near Brown's Hill. Workers also dug drains along a path called Swamp Road, which later became Dynon Road. This road connected the area to West Melbourne. In 1907, a contractor named Michael Walsh won a big government job to finish the drainage work.

The draining of the swamp changed the landscape forever. It made way for new developments like the Coode Canal, which improved shipping access to Melbourne.

Life Around the Swamp

During the 1930s, a difficult time known as the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs. Some unemployed people built simple homes, or shantytowns, on the edges of the drained swamp and near Dudley Street. This area became known as Dudley Flats. It was a place where people struggled but also formed a community during tough times.

Images for kids

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  The Lower Yarra River and West Melbourne Swamp before it was drained.

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  How Coode Island was created and what was left of West Melbourne Swamp after the Coode Canal was built (1880–1892).