D for DAREBIN

Darebin is the Aboriginal word for the Australian swallows (Hirundo neoxena).  An alternate spelling is darabin. Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor-General of New South Wales, sent Robert Hoddle down to the new colony at Port Phillip to survey the new land.   He instructed Hoddle to use the local Aboriginal place names wherever possible.Hoddle and his assisted Thomas Henry Nutt were surveying the Yarra River and Merri Creek in early 1837, Nutt completing the Merri Creek by April of that year.

By the end of 1839 Darebin Creek was appearing on maps of the area and by 1841 we start getting the first births listed along the Darebin Creek.   At this stage there were very few towns or villages and the creeks were the only way of describing the locality.

On 26 August 1870 a number of Local Road Boards were amalgamated to form the Shire of Darebin. This huge shire stretched from Northcote, to Merriang, Whittlesea and Woodstock. With few roads, and with horse and carriage the only forms of transport the amount and time required for travelling for the Councillors was prohibitive.  It was no surprise that just over a year later the Shire of Darebin was broken up. Whittlesea retained the Shire of Darebin whilst Northcote and Preston became the Shire of Jika Jika. In 1994 the cities of Northcote and Preston amalgamated to become the City of Darebin.

The Darebin Parklands straddle Alphington and Ivanhoe, approximately 10 kilometres northeast of the City of Melbourne, and they are a district park covering an area of 33 hectares. Darebin Creek flows through the Parklands, to join the Yarra River, at Alphington.

Darebin Parklands is one of Darebin Council’s premier conservation parks sited along the Darebin Creek. The park is managed by the Darebin Creek Management Committee which the Cities of Darebin and Banyule are members. Darebin Parklands is a wonderful setting for walks and escaping into the natural environment, and is located only 5 km from Melbourne's CBD. The park has a full time Ranger coordinating the Education Centre which details the parks rich history and commitment to conservation and environmental sustainability. The Darebin Creek Trail runs through the centre of the park and provides shared trail access through to Bundoora Park 10km to the north.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.