Mullum Mullum Creek - Victoria Australia

1. High Plateau Tract
- the Mullum Mullum Creek Source.
A ring of high forested hills, that separates the Dandenong Valley from the Yarra Valley, nurtures the source of the Mullum Mullum Creek.

The high plateau is formed by the Wicklow Ridge to Reagh's Hill in the east, Bedford Road and Maroondah Highway in the south, and the Loughnan's Hill, Wonga Road ridge to the west. Commencing in Croydon south of Birt's Hill behind the Yarra Valley School, the Mullum Mullum Creek flows south downstream passing remnant orchards, bushland and parks through Ringwood and past Eastland Shopping Centre. Native hyacinth orchids and small grass trees hide in the remnant forests. The otter-like Rakali swims and fishes in the stream. Butterflies live in the grassy and sedgy woodlands, and birds and possums are plentiful. Drier mixed species forests gradually give way to Swamp Gums and Manna Gums as the Creek heads south. Near New Street, the creek once turned and flowed south of Maroondah Highway down the now dry bed of the upper Heatherdale Creek to the Dandenong Creek and Port Philip Bay, but a natural "River Capture" has now taken the waters of the creek and diverted them through a narrow gap in the hills to the North and the Yarra River.

2. Steep "V" shaped Mountain Tract
- the Mullum Mullum Gorge.
With the extra captured water, the Mullum Mullum Creek has carved a steep "V" shaped gorge with rocky cascades. In the damp shadows, tall old growth riparian forests provide habitat for Koalas and many birds nest in ancient tree hollows. Maiden Hair ferns and Tree ferns thrive. On the drier hillsides orchids bloom and echidnas wander.

Passing under the steep bushland escarpment below Poynton Avenue Ringwood, the rocky cascades and fern covered banks of the Mullum Mullum gorge become apparent. Tall Manna Gum Woodlands, some with Treefern understorey, are home to Tawny Frogmouths and Sugar Gliders. Near Schwerkolt Cottage, the rocky cascades are bordered by drier open grassy woodlands, rare Valley Heathy Forest rich with native orchids, particularly near Antonio Park, Yarran Dheran, the Hillcrest area at Mitcham, and the Chaim Court bushland and pipe-track at Donvale. The tall ancient Manna gum forests near Whitefriars are outstanding. Here the ducks nest on the tops of old stags, crimson rosellas, galahs and other parrots nest in old hollows, rare large Powerful Owls roost, and rainbow lorikeets screech overhead. Pied cormorants and night herons cruise the creek pools. Rakali and the occasional platypus, fish for galaxia, gudgeon and yabbies. Their are signs of wombat diggings on the hill face but they are rarely seen. The occasional swamp wallaby and eastern grey kangaroo visit the gorge. On warmer days you will see skinks, blue tongue lizards, copperhead snakes, and if you are lucky you might see Marbled Geckos, and White-lipped snakes.

3. Valley Tract of the Mullum Mullum Creek
- the Open Valley
At Park Road the valley begins to open up. Here many small tributaries join the Mullum Mullum Creek.

Loughnan's Creek connects to Loughie's Bushland and B.J. Hubbard Bushland Reserves in Ringwood North, and many green corridors and urban pathways link to the Mullum Mullum Creek bushland parks on the West. Pockets of good bushland such as the Girl Guides camp in McGowans Road provide refuge to koalas and Tawny Frogmouths. Rare yellow box open woodlands with kangaroo grass understorey to the East help protect the resident kangaroos and the breeding White-winged Choughs. The higher ground in Park Orchards provides views to the dividing ranges and Mount Macedon and glimpses of the Yarra Valley to the north. Old gold mines harbor bat colonies.

The rural areas of Park Orchards, the bushland from Tindalls Road to Reynolds Road, the marvellous Currawong Bush Park, the regenerated bushland near Larnoo Drive at Donvale all provide wonderful bushland habitat and a very significant linear open space. Small tributaries with wetlands, ferns and Growling Grass Frogs link to the Mullum at Currawong Bush Park. Kangaroos, Koalas and Echidnas are permanent residents in the area, and Platypus live in the Creek.

The last major tributary, that forms the valley of the Green Gully Linear Park, and that cradles a number of smaller reserves all the way from above Jenkins Park south of Reynolds Road in Templestowe, to the wetland North of Websters Road, joins the Mullum Mullum Creek, near Tikalara, just opposite the new parklands within the subdivision as the end of Blackburn Road.

4. Plains Tract of the Mullum Mullum Creek
- the Meeting Place
North of the Heidelberg - Warrandyte Road the Mullum Mullum Creek slowly winds its way towards the Yarra River in Templestowe and Warrandyte. Where the Mullum Mullum meets the Yarra, is also where Wurundjeri and European Cultures meet.

Tikalara Park, the next stage of the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park upstream from Petty's Orchard, is particularly a place of significance for the Wurundjeri. Here ancient scar trees and scatter sites provide physical evidence to support the documented evidence that this area was a clan meeting place of the Wurundjeri.

Pontville homestead on the Mullum Mullum Creek near the Yarra River is a site of State historic significance for its associations with early European settlement, and it is a known site of conflict between European and Wurundjeri cultures.

Where the Mullum Mullum meets the Yarra Yarra, is a unique place. The waters merge just like our cultures. It is a place for reflection on the past: a place for understanding and forgiving; a place where we can work together to reconcile all our cultures; and a place near our homes where we can share and enjoy this wonderful land and its natural environment.

It is where platypus breed and kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats roam. The Australian Platypus Conservancy has been studying the significant population of platypus in this area, and their research has confirmed that the Mullum Mullum Creek provides habitat for the highest density of platypus in the whole of the Yarra River catchment.

Top | Its four sections

Friends of Mullum Mullum Valley

53 Aurum Crescent, Ringwood North VIC 3134 AUS


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	Its four sections

	Mullum Mullum Creek's four distinct physiographic features.	Photos: Helen Moss

	1. High Plateau Tract - the Mullum Mullum Creek Source. A ring of high forested hills, that separates the Dandenong Valley from the Yarra Valley, nurtures the source of the Mullum Mullum Creek. The high plateau is formed by the Wicklow Ridge to Reagh's Hill in the east, Bedford Road and Maroondah Highway in the south, and the Loughnan's Hill, Wonga Road ridge to the west. Commencing in Croydon south of Birt's Hill behind the Yarra Valley School, the Mullum Mullum Creek flows south downstream passing remnant orchards, bushland and parks through Ringwood and past Eastland Shopping Centre. Native hyacinth orchids and small grass trees hide in the remnant forests. The otter-like Rakali swims and fishes in the stream. Butterflies live in the grassy and sedgy woodlands, and birds and possums are plentiful. Drier mixed species forests gradually give way to Swamp Gums and Manna Gums as the Creek heads south. Near New Street, the creek once turned and flowed south of Maroondah Highway down the now dry bed of the upper Heatherdale Creek to the Dandenong Creek and Port Philip Bay, but a natural "River Capture" has now taken the waters of the creek and diverted them through a narrow gap in the hills to the North and the Yarra River.
	View Map of Significant Bushland
	2. Steep "V" shaped Mountain Tract - the Mullum Mullum Gorge. With the extra captured water, the Mullum Mullum Creek has carved a steep "V" shaped gorge with rocky cascades. In the damp shadows, tall old growth riparian forests provide habitat for Koalas and many birds nest in ancient tree hollows. Maiden Hair ferns and Tree ferns thrive. On the drier hillsides orchids bloom and echidnas wander. Passing under the steep bushland escarpment below Poynton Avenue Ringwood, the rocky cascades and fern covered banks of the Mullum Mullum gorge become apparent. Tall Manna Gum Woodlands, some with Treefern understorey, are home to Tawny Frogmouths and Sugar Gliders. Near Schwerkolt Cottage, the rocky cascades are bordered by drier open grassy woodlands, rare Valley Heathy Forest rich with native orchids, particularly near Antonio Park, Yarran Dheran, the Hillcrest area at Mitcham, and the Chaim Court bushland and pipe-track at Donvale. The tall ancient Manna gum forests near Whitefriars are outstanding. Here the ducks nest on the tops of old stags, crimson rosellas, galahs and other parrots nest in old hollows, rare large Powerful Owls roost, and rainbow lorikeets screech overhead. Pied cormorants and night herons cruise the creek pools. Rakali and the occasional platypus, fish for galaxia, gudgeon and yabbies. Their are signs of wombat diggings on the hill face but they are rarely seen. The occasional swamp wallaby and eastern grey kangaroo visit the gorge. On warmer days you will see skinks, blue tongue lizards, copperhead snakes, and if you are lucky you might see Marbled Geckos, and White-lipped snakes.
	View Map of Significant Bushland
	3. Valley Tract of the Mullum Mullum Creek - the Open Valley At Park Road the valley begins to open up. Here many small tributaries join the Mullum Mullum Creek. Loughnan's Creek connects to Loughie's Bushland and B.J. Hubbard Bushland Reserves in Ringwood North, and many green corridors and urban pathways link to the Mullum Mullum Creek bushland parks on the West. Pockets of good bushland such as the Girl Guides camp in McGowans Road provide refuge to koalas and Tawny Frogmouths. Rare yellow box open woodlands with kangaroo grass understorey to the East help protect the resident kangaroos and the breeding White-winged Choughs. The higher ground in Park Orchards provides views to the dividing ranges and Mount Macedon and glimpses of the Yarra Valley to the north. Old gold mines harbor bat colonies. The rural areas of Park Orchards, the bushland from Tindalls Road to Reynolds Road, the marvellous Currawong Bush Park, the regenerated bushland near Larnoo Drive at Donvale all provide wonderful bushland habitat and a very significant linear open space. Small tributaries with wetlands, ferns and Growling Grass Frogs link to the Mullum at Currawong Bush Park. Kangaroos, Koalas and Echidnas are permanent residents in the area, and Platypus live in the Creek. The last major tributary, that forms the valley of the Green Gully Linear Park, and that cradles a number of smaller reserves all the way from above Jenkins Park south of Reynolds Road in Templestowe, to the wetland North of Websters Road, joins the Mullum Mullum Creek, near Tikalara, just opposite the new parklands within the subdivision as the end of Blackburn Road.
	View Map of Significant Bushland
	4. Plains Tract of the Mullum Mullum Creek - the Meeting Place North of the Heidelberg - Warrandyte Road the Mullum Mullum Creek slowly winds its way towards the Yarra River in Templestowe and Warrandyte. Where the Mullum Mullum meets the Yarra, is also where Wurundjeri and European Cultures meet. Tikalara Park, the next stage of the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park upstream from Petty's Orchard, is particularly a place of significance for the Wurundjeri. Here ancient scar trees and scatter sites provide physical evidence to support the documented evidence that this area was a clan meeting place of the Wurundjeri. Pontville homestead on the Mullum Mullum Creek near the Yarra River is a site of State historic significance for its associations with early European settlement, and it is a known site of conflict between European and Wurundjeri cultures. Where the Mullum Mullum meets the Yarra Yarra, is a unique place. The waters merge just like our cultures. It is a place for reflection on the past: a place for understanding and forgiving; a place where we can work together to reconcile all our cultures; and a place near our homes where we can share and enjoy this wonderful land and its natural environment. It is where platypus breed and kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats roam. The Australian Platypus Conservancy has been studying the significant population of platypus in this area, and their research has confirmed that the Mullum Mullum Creek provides habitat for the highest density of platypus in the whole of the Yarra River catchment.
	View Map of Significant Bushland
	Top \| Its four sections

	Friends of Mullum Mullum Valley
	53 Aurum Crescent, Ringwood North VIC 3134 AUS