The river, the reserve and the
Blue Lotus Water Garden
The Little Yarra River follows the southern boundary of the Blue Lotus Water Garden and is one of the main tributaries of the Yarra River that flows through Melbourne. Its headwaters are located in the Yarra State Forest about 20km east of the gardens. The sandy/silty bottom stream winds its way through fertile agricultural land that continues to produce food for the growing population of Melbourne. The river ends its journey when it meets the Yarra River at Launching Place, about 5km west of the garden.
Map – Little Yarra Valley
Map – Blue Lotus Water Garden
Photo – Little Yarra River
How we maintain and improve the river reserve
The Blue Lotus Water Garden undertakes constant maintenance of the crown land along the river. Our team removes weeds such as blackberry’s, honeysuckle and willows along with others. We also control vermin like European wasps, rabbits and foxes. Over the years we have revegetated the area with hundreds of local indigenous plants at our own expense. Species include indigenous gums, ferns, banksias, wattles, melaleucas, tea trees and various grasses, rushes, sedges and aquatic plants. The whole area is also kept mulched to help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
The plants and animals that depend on the Little Yarra River environment that neighbours the Blue Lotus Water Garden benefits from the garden itself. The waterways and plant life in the garden provide additional habitat and food sources for many animals. During summer the waterways and lakes also act as a large filtration system with the lotus and waterlilies filtering and oxygenating any runoff water before it enters the river system. Additionally, the varieties of lotus and waterlilies the garden grows only produce sterile seed and will NOT survive in cool running water. This makes it impossible for them to become a weed threat to the Little Yarra River environment.
Photo – Planting of indigenous gum tree
Photo – After revegetation works
Photo – Planting of indigenous aqutic rush
Animals of the river and its environment
The Little Yarra River and its environment is home to many of Victoria’s iconic native plants and animals, some of which are rare or endangered. The stream is home to a variety of creatures including platypus, native blackfish, eels, trout, spiny freshwater crayfish and many other small fishes and crustaceans.
The banks and surrounding vegetation also provide habitat for wallabies, echidnas, koalas, possums, venomous snakes & reptiles, rodents, frogs, insects & spiders.
A real feature of this area is the native bird life. Some of the species that reside or regularly visit include Azure and Sacred Kingfishers, many types of parrots and honeyeaters, finches, kookaburras, magpies, raptors and more. The wetlands and billabongs attract many water birds such as spoonbills, egrets, cormorants, water hens, ducks, swans and others.
Photo – Spiny Freshwater Crayfish
Photo – Azure Kingfisher
Photo – River Blackfish
Access to the river and new river trail
All formal access to the river from the garden has been revegetated. We discourage visitors from entering this area due to the hazards that exist, including highly venomous snakes and the sensitive nature of some of the recent revegetation works. We recommend visitors view the river and its environment from the garden’s boundary track. If visitors would like to get a closer experience of the Little Yarra River. A new walking/bike track has been built by local authorities which follows the river to the Yarra Junction township. This new track also connects with the 38km long Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. Access to the new track is only 200m from the garden’s entrance. To find out more
click here
Photo – Tiger Snake (deadly)
Photo – Revegetation area
Image – New river trail
The future looks positive
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Cochrane family (owners of the garden) and caretaker of the Crown land since the late 1960s. This unique environment will continue to be maintained and improved for the benefit of the plants and animals that live there, and the humans that enjoy using it.
Photo – Little Yarra River
Photo – Platypus
Photo – Kookaburra