Birrarung Banks, 25 Yarradale Rd Toorak
Land Manager: Melbourne Water
Traditional Custodians: Wurundjeri
The steeply sloping site of approximately .3h stretches along the bank of the Yarra River/Birrarung on the city side of the Heyington Railway Bridge, below the Glendalough (Junior School) campus of St Kevins College.
Established as a works depot when the current railway bridge was built and the river rerouted to accompany construction of the S-E freeway in the 1960s, the site features a now-crumbling asphalt and concrete roadway snaking down to the riverbank level. It has two main zones, a dry upper level and a lower zone under a flood overlay.
The upper level of the site is on a mudstone escarpment with very little topsoil. Some native trees of varying origin have been planted, many now in marginal condition. The site has been subject to erosion and infestation by exotic weeds; there is however encouraging evidence of spontaneous regeneration including endemic saltbush and other indigenous species.
Regeneration of this significant inner urban riparian site will focus on bank stabilisation and weed control, followed by the introduction of indigenous and endemic grasses and other plants in stages, to support the spontaneously recovering ecosystem in place.
We are grateful to Traditional Custodians the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation for their support of the project and to members of the Narrap and Birrarung Rangers teams, including the Narrap Bush Nursery, for planting and other advice. We look forward to ongoing engagement as the project progresses.
Work on site starting in 2026!
Revegetation activity will begin with weed control by contractors. Our first volunteer working bee is scheduled for 10am-12 noon Sunday August 9.
Join us – all welcome!