Yarran Dheran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yarran Dheran |
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The Mullum Mullum Creek running through Yarran Dheran
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| Type | Public Park |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Area | 7.2 hectares |
| Operated by | City of Whitehorse |
| Status | Open |
| Paths | Mullum Mullum Creek Trail, Unsealed bush paths |
| Terrain | Remnant and regenerated riparian Bushland |
| Water | Mullum Mullum Creek and various gullies |
| Vegetation | Eucalypts, Acacias, River Red Gums |
| Connecting transport | Car, Bus (nearby) |
| Landmarks | Mullum Mullum Creek |
| Facilities | Visitors Centre, Toilets, Picnic areas |
Yarran Dheran is a cool bushland park in Melbourne, Australia. It's located in the eastern suburbs, right by the Mullum Mullum Creek. This park is 7.2 hectares big, which is about the size of 10 football fields!
It's a special place with lots of native plants and animals. You can find over 85 different kinds of birds here. The Mullum Mullum Creek Trail goes right through the park. There are also many smaller dirt paths to explore. Yarran Dheran has a visitors centre, toilets, and grassy spots for picnics. It's a great place to connect with nature.
Park History
Let's go back in time to learn about Yarran Dheran. In 1865, a man named August Schwerkolt built a cottage. He used stones from the Mullum Mullum Creek for his family's home. A path was made along the creek to move these stones. This path reached a special area set aside for a stone quarry.
Later, a company and the local council used this quarry. In 1963, the council turned the old quarry into a tip for rubbish. In 1962, big bushfires in Melbourne burned some of the park's plants. They also destroyed a pine tree forest planted in the 1930s.
In 1967, the land was officially chosen to become a public park. Local people and a group called the Blackburn Tree Preservation Society helped. They wanted a park with native Australian plants. The name Yarran Dheran was chosen, which means "Wattle Gully."
In April 1971, a group was formed to manage the park. Over the next 10 years, more than 40,000 trees and shrubs were planted. In 1973, a landscape designer helped plan the park's layout. Two more hectares of land were bought, making the park 7.2 hectares in total.
Big construction work started in 1975. A beautiful waterfall and fern gully were finished in 1979. The information centre opened in 1980. More recently, new, wider paths and bridges were built. These are part of the Mullum Mullum Creek Trail. They make it easier for people, especially cyclists, to travel through the park.
Plants and Animals
Yarran Dheran is home to many amazing plants and animals.
Wonderful Plants
You can see different types of wattles here. These include the silver wattle and blackwood. Other wattles like prickly Moses and black wattle bloom in spring.
Many beautiful orchids grow in Yarran Dheran. Look for the wax-lip orchid, blue beard, and spider orchid. You might also spot the purple coral-pea. This climbing plant was once very common in the nearby hills. People even called them the "purple hills" because of these flowers!
Amazing Animals
Over 85 kinds of birds live in Yarran Dheran. Some common ones are Australian magpies, grey fantails, and noisy miners. You might also see eastern yellow robins and eastern silvereyes. It's interesting that some birds use plastic from the creek to build their nests.
Sometimes, people report seeing Koalas in the area. The park's notice boards might even show recent koala sightings. Be careful during spring, as magpies can swoop down. They do this to protect their nests from anything they see as a threat, even koalas or people.
You might also see snakes, so always watch where you step. If you bring your dog, make sure it stays on a leash. This is very important because there are echidnas in the park. Dogs off leashes can be a danger to these unique animals.
