Yarra River

The **Yarra River** is also known as the **Yarra Yarra River**, Aboriginal: ***Berrern***, ***Birr-arrung***, ***Bay-ray-rung***, ***Birarang***. ***Birrarung***, and ***Wongete***). The Yarra River is a perennial river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The river flows from its source in the Yarra Ranges  west through the Yarra Valley. The river opens out into plains as it winds its way through Greater Melbourne. It then empties into Hobsons Bay in northernmost Port Phillip.

The river was a major food source for indigenous Australians during prehistoric times. It also served as a meeting place during those times. The river was first called _Birrarung_ by the Wurundjeri. The current name was translated wrong from another Wurundjeri term in the Boonwurrung language; _Yarro-yarro_, meaning  "ever-flowing".

The river was used for agriculture by early European settlers.  The landscape of the river has changed since 1835. The course of the river has been changed and widened in places. Widening and dams, like the Upper Yarra Reservoir have helped protect Melbourne from major flooding. Industrialisation led to the destruction of the marshlands at the joining of the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers in the area around Coode Island in West Melbourne. The yearly Moomba festival celebrates the Yarra River's meaning to Melbourne.

## Other websites

- The Yarra River

## Infobox (river)

- **name**: Yarra
- **name native**: Berrern
Birr-arrung
Wongete
Yarro-yarro
- **name etymology**: Bunwurrung language, Bunwurrung (Aboriginal Australian languages, Indigenous Australian): _Yarro-yarro_, "ever-flowing"
- **nickname**: The Yarra
- **image**: Yarra River Pound Bend.JPG
- **image size**: 260px
- **image caption**: The Yarra River through Pound Bend near Warrandyte.
- **pushpin map**: Australia Victoria
- **pushpin map caption**: Location of the Mouth (river), mouth of the Yarra River in Victoria (Australia), Victoria
- **subdivision type1**: Country
- **subdivision name1**: Australia
- **subdivision type2**: States and territories of Australia, State
- **subdivision name2**: Victoria (Australia), Victoria
- **subdivision type3**: Region
- **subdivision name3**: South Eastern Highlands (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia, IBRA), Central Victoria
- **subdivision type4**: Local government in Australia, LGA
- **subdivision name4**: City of Hobsons Bay
City of Port Phillip
City of Melbourne
City of Yarra
City of Darebin
City of Boroondara
City of Banyule
City of Manningham
Shire of Nillumbik
Yarra Ranges Shire
- **subdivision type5**: City
- **subdivision name5**: Melbourne
- **discharge1 location**: mouth
- **source1**: Yarra Ranges, Great Dividing Range
- **source1 location**: within Yarra Ranges National Park
- **mouth**: Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip
- **mouth location**: near the suburb of
- **river system**: Port Phillip and Western Port catchment
- **basin size**: 50%
- **tributaries left**: Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds Creek, Merri Creek, Darebin Creek, Plenty River, Diamond Creek (Yarra River), Diamond Creek, Steeles Creek, Watts River, Badger Creek, Don River (Victoria), Don River, Cement Creek, O'Shannassy River
- **tributaries right**: Gardiners Creek, Glass Creek, Koonung Creek, Mullum Mullum Creek, Jumping Creek, Olinda Creek, Woori Yallock Creek, Hoddles Creek, Little Yarra River, Starvation Creek
- **custom label**: National park
- **custom data**: Yarra Ranges National Park, Yarra Ranges NP, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens