Olinda Creek (Woiwurrung: Gnurt-bille-worrun)[1] is a major tributary of the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. Its origins are in the Dandenong Ranges, and it is notable for passing through the settlement of Lilydale (now a suburb of Melbourne) before joining with the Yarra near Coldstream.[2][3]
| Olinda Creek (Gnurt-bille-worrun) | |
|---|---|
 Olinda Creek Main street crossing from pedestrian footbridge | |
| Etymology | Named after Alice Olinda Hodgkinson, daughter of Deputy Surveyor-General Clement Hodgkinson |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Region | Central Victoria |
| City | Melbourne |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Mount Dandenong |
| • location | Great Dividing Range, Victoria |
| • elevation | 580 m (1,900 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Yarra River, Coldstream, Victoria, Australia |
• elevation | 76 m (249 ft) |
| Length | 21.4 km (13.3 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
History and Toponymy edit
When Europeans first entered this area of southern Australia, they moved up the valley of the Olinda Creek (then called Running Creek because it was a perennial stream). The formal naming process began with the survey of Lilydale township by John Hardy in 1859–60. At the same time that he named Lilydale, Hardy renamed the creek ‘Olinda’ after Alice Olinda Hodgkinson, daughter of Deputy Surveyor-General Clement Hodgkinson.
A major dam wall was built to create Silvan Reservoir in 1926. This stopped water flowing into Olinda Creek at the northern end of the reservoir. A second, minor dam wall at the southern end stops water flowing into Emerald Creek.
Lillydale Lake edit
Between 1988 and 1990 a dam was built on the creek just south of Lilydale, creating Lillydale Lake. The lake provides flood mitigation to areas downstream. It incorporates extensive wetlands and is a community recreation facility.[4]
References edit
- ^ Smyth, R. Brough (Robert Brough) (1878). "The aborigines of Victoria: with notes relating to the habits of the natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania". Melbourne : J. Ferres, gov't printer; [etc., etc.] Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Map of Olinda Creek in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia".
- ^ "Our Yarra : What's in my neighbourhood : Olinda Creek". Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- ^ "Lillydale Lake".
37°40′56″S 145°21′16″E / 37.6822°S 145.3544°E
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