WELCOME TO HERRING ISLAND PARK

the island from Como landing with Melbourne in the background
HERRING ISLAND
- located in the Yarra River, 4 kilometers upstream from the Melbourne central business district.

About Herring Island

Herring Island is an important environmental and recreational asset in Melbourne's inner suburbs, and forms an important focus for the linear parkland proposed for the lower reaches of the Yarra River.

The Island contains indigenous vegetation, and provides important habitat for native fauna, particularly birds. Such areas are rare in the inner suburbs, and are a valuable ecological resource. Herring Island is also an important recreational resource which provides opportunities for nature study, passive recreation and adventure play.

Herring Island is little known to the people of Melbourne despite its prominent position in the Yarra River. For years, the Island had been used as a depository for silt dredged from the Yarra River and has experienced periods of neglect. This has left a legacy of land degradation, particularly soil salting, tree dieback, and weed invasion.

The Friends group is working with Parks Victoria to restore the Island. There is a unique opportunity to become involved in this project, as new members and associates are welcome.

Herring Island History


Pre-European History
- Volcanoes north and west of Melbourne formed the path of the Yarra River. The lower Yarra was in the lands of the Wurundjeri people.

1870 - 80
Quarry formed and stone used for local Richmond roads. Quarry now the Burnley Boat Harbour

1928
August 1928 ... Excavation almost complete and bluestone lining of banks in progress.
River channel cut through Richmond quarry...

opening the channel - looking south to the island
.....to form an island.

1934
the November 1934 flood Herring Island Como Park MacRobertson Bridge Gardiner's Creek Swan Street Burnley Burnley Hawthorn Toorak South Richmond
Yarra River flood level reached the height of the current freeway deck.

1930 - 76
building the levee banks. Looking south to Alexandra Avenue and Como Park.
Levee banks formed and silt dumped over 'Como Island'

1950 - 60
Scouts occupy the island. In 1952, the island is renamed "Herring Island" after Sir Edmund Herring.

1970
Scouts leave Island.

1985
Herring Island Committee of Management - Management Plan developed over 5 years.

1993
Committee recommends Melbourne Water to take over.

1994
Herring Island becomes a Public Park.

1995
Herring Island development plan launched by Mark Birrell, the Minister for Conservation & Natural Resources.

1996
Friends commence revegetation and bird-box program.

1997
Herring Island is the site of Melbourne Festival's "Environmental Sculpture" Park.

Aims of Friends of Herring Island Inc.

  1. To restore indigenous Yarra Valley vegetation and wildlife.
  2. To enable members of the community to participate in the restoration of the island.
  3. To communicate and work with other ecologically minded friends groups for mutual benefit.
  4. To prepare displays and information for use in schools and the education of the wider community.
  5. To manage and maintain such funds as shall be needed to achieve these objectives.
  6. To provide advice to Parks Victoria and the government of the day.

VISIT HERRING ISLAND SOON!

VIEW THIS SITE WITH A MENU BAR

About Herring Island | Getting to and What's on | Island Map | Artworks | Plants | Birds | Sir Edmund Herring | 6 seasons | Other Sculpture Parks
To join the Friends | Annual Reports | Planting Days | Our other Friends

or see our videos - "Herring Island Halfway" and "Herring Island Update"
available from the libraries of the Cities of Yarra, Stonnington or Melbourne.
Herring Island homepages written in a Text Editor by Stanley Barker
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