An inland wetland at the Turning Basin

The Turning Basin (also known as the Swinging Basin) was once a natural widening in the Yarra River – Birrarung, bordered by a small waterfall near today’s Queens Bridge.  

Here, the fresh water of the river once mixed with salt water from the bay.  

This lower stretch of the river was once a rich eco-system of vegetation and salty wetlands, and the species it supported made it an important place for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and the people of the Kulin nation.

City of Melbourne is experimenting with floating wetlands at three locations in the Yarra River – Birrarung as part of a trial funded by the Victorian Government. 

The floating wetlands reintroduce indigenous planting to the city river and help us to understand more about the plant and animal life these 'novel ecosystems' can support. 

We’ve planted 62 species across the three sites, to support the return of native plants and wildlife.

This wetland has a selection of...

Ground covers

Rushes

Grasses

and shrubs

...which are designed to attract local wildlife, including insects and birds.

The Turning Basin was the last of the three floating wetland sites to be installed, so vegetation growth has taken a little longer to get going.  

As we observe the wetland trial, we are noticing that the vigor of the plants varies with the levels of salt at each location and along with some impacts of foraging and trampling by wildlife.