Many felt they must tame and transform it, but those people and organisations of the time who argued for reserves to be set aside, and for playgrounds, gardens and sporting fields to be established, did us a favour that we are only just beginning to really appreciate. We know now that these 'green belts' help our city to breathe, and that public spaces encourage a sense of community. In our open spaces, people from many different social, cultural and economic backgrounds share space, and each contributes to the atmosphere that the other enjoys.
Waterways make up over two-thirds of our municipal boundaries.
The Yarra River flows through the City of Yarra, and the Merri and Darebin Creeks enter the Yarra River within the municipality. For thousands of years, the Aboriginal people who lived here respected the natural environment and maintained the delicate balance of the waterways ecology. The settlers were also attracted to the waterways, but their industry and farming exploited the natural resources and harmed the water ecology. Today, people are working hard to reverse that damage. Walking, cycling and boating are the easiest ways to enjoy the Yarra River.