Mullum Mullum Creek - Victoria Australia

Brunonia australis - Photo: © Helen Moss

The Mullum Mullum Creek is a creek within urban metropolitan Melbourne, that is surrounded by bushland for most of its length.
Thus it is significant, as the only creek within metropolitan Melbourne that still has substantial natural values for most of its length.
The creek and its bushland provides habitat for significant species including Platypus, Rakali, Koalas, Powerful Owls, Rufous Night Herons, White winged Choughs and Yellow tailed Black Cockatoos.

The Mullum Mullum Creek starts on the Dandenong Valley side of the hilly dividing range that divides the Yarra River from the Dandenong Creek, but then it turns and cuts through this divide and heads north to join the Yarra River in Warrandyte. Where it cuts through the divide, it has formed a small steep sided gorge with rocky cascades. Thus the Creek is also special because it is a rare example of natural "river capture" - originally the Mullum Mullum Creek flowed south to join Heatherdale Creek, and the Dandenong Creek, but now it joins its "captor" creek and flows north to the Yarra River.

The divide between the Yarra River and Dandenong Creek stretches from near Kew through Box Hill to Mitcham and Croydon.
This distinctive high ground was probably a route for the original indigenous inhabitants of this land. After European settlers arrived, the ridge became a route for their horses and carts, and became known as "Barkers Track". Later surveyors straightened up the track along this ridge,and we can now follow it along Cotham Road, Whitehorse Road, Maroondah Highway, Wonga Road and Yarra Road. Barkers Road in Kew still retains "Barkers" name.

View Catchment Map

Later, when Gold was discovered, diggers heading for the Anderson goldfields (Warrandyte) would use Anderson Track and Warrandyte Road, on the way they crossed "Deep Creek" - an alternate name for the lower part of the Mullum Mullum Creek.

Early settlement occupied the well watered open grassy woodlands on either side of the ridge lines, along the main roads and railway lines, and the more open valleys. Orchards were established on the higher plateaus of Ringwood, Croydon, Park Orchards, and Templestowe.

The natural significance of the valley was recognised early by Naturalists who made excursions to Mitcham to see the remarkable bushlands and rich wildflower displays. In the 1920s and the 1930s it was proposed that the Mullum Mullum Valley should become bush parkland, but the remnant bushlands were not threatened by development, the scenery was not spectacular, and our society had other priorities. After the War, more people made excursions to Mitcham, and to Loughnan's Hill and Louhnan's Lake in Ringwood North to enjoy the views and the wonderful bushlands.

By 1946, local town planning schemes again proposed protection of this bushland as parkland, but local planning schemes were being brought together under the MMBW Metropolitan Planning Scheme.
In 1954, this scheme first proposed a series of "parkway" roads along our creek valleys, which have now become the all consuming freeways of today. (Many local residents who chose, in the 1930s and 1940s, to establish their residences next to these bushland, have been fighting for more than 50 years to protect these bushlands from development.)

In recognition of the need to protect Melbourne's Open Space network, the planning schemes were amended to create our network of Metropolitan Parks. Mullum Mullum Creek was not included within this network. However, more recent reviews of Metropolitan Open Space and remnant vegetation have recognised the values of the Mullum Mullum Creek and its tributaries; the role of smaller bushland parks, greenlinks and canopy tree corridors; and Municipalities have now recognised their role in the conservation of species, habitats, and remnant bushlands.

The Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park is now gradually coming into being, combining creek management; protection and management of remnant bushlands; and re-vegetation to protect and enhance this significant bushland.

The Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park was initiated by Melbourne Parks and Waterways (now 'Melbourne Water' and 'Parks Victoria'), the City of Manningham and the community. It has now been endorsed and adopted by the City of Maroondah, and the City of Whitehorse.

There are still many threats and opportunties that need to be addressed to ensure that the Mullum Mulum Creek remains a significant bushland corridor for all time.

Please enjoy it, and help look after it.

Remember: Think globally and act locally - our local bushland is globally significant.

Please also be responsible and protect our waterways from litter, lawn clippings, and pollutants - the Mullum Mullum Creek is a tributary of the Yarra River, and Port Phillip Bay.

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Friends of Mullum Mullum Valley

53 Aurum Crescent, Ringwood North VIC 3134 AUS


	Mullum Mullum Creek	Home What is it? What's it Mean? Its four Sections Linear Park Why is it important? Looking after it What else?
	What is it?

	A significant urban wildlife corridor	Photos: Helen Moss

	The Mullum Mullum Creek is a creek within urban metropolitan Melbourne, that is surrounded by bushland for most of its length. Thus it is significant, as the only creek within metropolitan Melbourne that still has substantial natural values for most of its length. The creek and its bushland provides habitat for significant species including Platypus, Rakali, Koalas, Powerful Owls, Rufous Night Herons, White winged Choughs and Yellow tailed Black Cockatoos.
	View Map of Significant Bushland
	The Mullum Mullum Creek starts on the Dandenong Valley side of the hilly dividing range that divides the Yarra River from the Dandenong Creek, but then it turns and cuts through this divide and heads north to join the Yarra River in Warrandyte. Where it cuts through the divide, it has formed a small steep sided gorge with rocky cascades. Thus the Creek is also special because it is a rare example of natural "river capture" - originally the Mullum Mullum Creek flowed south to join Heatherdale Creek, and the Dandenong Creek, but now it joins its "captor" creek and flows north to the Yarra River. The divide between the Yarra River and Dandenong Creek stretches from near Kew through Box Hill to Mitcham and Croydon. This distinctive high ground was probably a route for the original indigenous inhabitants of this land. After European settlers arrived, the ridge became a route for their horses and carts, and became known as "Barkers Track". Later surveyors straightened up the track along this ridge,and we can now follow it along Cotham Road, Whitehorse Road, Maroondah Highway, Wonga Road and Yarra Road. Barkers Road in Kew still retains "Barkers" name. View Catchment Map Later, when Gold was discovered, diggers heading for the Anderson goldfields (Warrandyte) would use Anderson Track and Warrandyte Road, on the way they crossed "Deep Creek" - an alternate name for the lower part of the Mullum Mullum Creek. Early settlement occupied the well watered open grassy woodlands on either side of the ridge lines, along the main roads and railway lines, and the more open valleys. Orchards were established on the higher plateaus of Ringwood, Croydon, Park Orchards, and Templestowe. The natural significance of the valley was recognised early by Naturalists who made excursions to Mitcham to see the remarkable bushlands and rich wildflower displays. In the 1920s and the 1930s it was proposed that the Mullum Mullum Valley should become bush parkland, but the remnant bushlands were not threatened by development, the scenery was not spectacular, and our society had other priorities. After the War, more people made excursions to Mitcham, and to Loughnan's Hill and Louhnan's Lake in Ringwood North to enjoy the views and the wonderful bushlands. By 1946, local town planning schemes again proposed protection of this bushland as parkland, but local planning schemes were being brought together under the MMBW Metropolitan Planning Scheme. In 1954, this scheme first proposed a series of "parkway" roads along our creek valleys, which have now become the all consuming freeways of today. (Many local residents who chose, in the 1930s and 1940s, to establish their residences next to these bushland, have been fighting for more than 50 years to protect these bushlands from development.) In recognition of the need to protect Melbourne's Open Space network, the planning schemes were amended to create our network of Metropolitan Parks. Mullum Mullum Creek was not included within this network. However, more recent reviews of Metropolitan Open Space and remnant vegetation have recognised the values of the Mullum Mullum Creek and its tributaries; the role of smaller bushland parks, greenlinks and canopy tree corridors; and Municipalities have now recognised their role in the conservation of species, habitats, and remnant bushlands. The Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park is now gradually coming into being, combining creek management; protection and management of remnant bushlands; and re-vegetation to protect and enhance this significant bushland. The Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park was initiated by Melbourne Parks and Waterways (now 'Melbourne Water' and 'Parks Victoria'), the City of Manningham and the community. It has now been endorsed and adopted by the City of Maroondah, and the City of Whitehorse. There are still many threats and opportunties that need to be addressed to ensure that the Mullum Mulum Creek remains a significant bushland corridor for all time. Please enjoy it, and help look after it. Remember: Think globally and act locally - our local bushland is globally significant. Please also be responsible and protect our waterways from litter, lawn clippings, and pollutants - the Mullum Mullum Creek is a tributary of the Yarra River, and Port Phillip Bay.
	Top \| What is it?

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