Yarra+River

History-
The Yarra River, also known as the Birrarung was Discovered by indigenous Australians thousands of years ago. The river was very important to the aborginals, providing many helpful items and was an important place for spiritual ceremoinies as well as burial grounds. The Wurundjeri people have been connected to the river for over 30,000 years. They called it Birrarung, meaning 'a place of mists and shadows'. It became known as the Yarra in the 1830s after someone heard a local Aboriginal saying Yarro Yarro meaning 'it flows'. In 1835, John Batman was the first white man to claim the river. He said he bought 500,000 acres of land, including the river, from the Wurundjeri people in exchange for goods including handkerchiefs, knifes, Blankets and scissors. By 1836, almost 200 settlers lived on the banks of the river along with thousands of sheep.

Gold was discovered at Warandyte 15 years later. 10 years after, the population had risen to more than 500,000, making Melbourne the biggest city in Australia, But this came with some consequences, In a town with no sewerage or waste systems, the river became the place where things were disposed o and the once clear Yarra became one of the dirtiest rivers in the world. Its waters began to spread diseases such as diphtheria, dysentery, typhoid and scarlet fever. The lower suburbs of the river became home to the poor, and the wealthier chose the cleaner areas. Over the next 100 years, city planners built dams along the river to ensure a constant supply of clean drinking water. Planners also changed the shape of the river to protect the city from flooding.

Tourism Aspect-
The Yarra River is a major tourist destination in Melbourne. It flows through the CBD and has been developed through the years into a gathering place for people. Many festivals and Celebrations are held along the river such as Moomba. On both sides of the river there are easy walkways and bicycle paths, sculptures and bridges. There are a number of Melbourne Attractions not far from the river such as Crown and Federation Square. Short walks away are attractions such as the Botanical Gardens, The Arts Precinct and The Eureka Tower. There are several different things to do along the Yarra itself, from family picnics by the water, to amazing cruises from end to end. When you come to Melbourne this is definitely a place to visit. It is the cleanest city river in the world and is home to several different species of fish and the occasional dolphin.