The Deep Creek is a
watercourse
A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a strea ...
of the
Port Phillip
Port Phillip (Kulin languages, Kulin: ''Narm-Narm'') or Port Phillip Bay is a horsehead-shaped bay#Types, enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, ...
catchment, located in the outer north western suburbs of
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, in the
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
n state of
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
* Victoria (state), a state of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital
* Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
.
Location and features
Formed by the
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also ''conflux'') occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel (geography), channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main ...
of a number of smaller streams draining the north eastern slopes of the
Macedon Ranges
The Macedon Ranges is a region in Central Victoria, known for its expansive native forests, vibrant arts scene, thriving food and wine industries (including weekly farmers' markets) and natural attractions such as Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon. ...
and the southern slopes of the
Cobaw range, both ranges being constituent parts of the
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, also known as the East Australian Cordillera or the Eastern Highlands, is a cordillera system in eastern Australia consisting of an expansive collection of mountain ranges, plateaus and rolling hills. It runs roughl ...
, the Deep Creek rises north of
Mount Macedon
Mount Macedon ( ; or ) is a dormant volcano that is part of the Macedon Ranges of the Great Dividing Range, located in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands region of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The mountain has a ...
, near Cobaw. The river flows generally east in a broad shallow valley, to the north of , before turning generally southwards towards to enter the deeper, narrower valley that characterises the remainder of the watercourse. The creek then flows east again before resuming its southward course at , towards , joined by several minor
tributaries
A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ('' main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which the ...
. The Deep Creek reaches its confluence with the
Jackson Creek near Bulla and together they form the
Maribyrnong River
The Maribyrnong River is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the northwestern suburbs of Melbourne, in the Australian state of Victoria.
Course
The Maribyrnong River draws its headwaters from near Mount Macedon within ...
.
The deep and relatively narrow valley cut by the creek in its southward course through the surrounding
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
plains is particularly prominent at such localities as Darraweit Guim, and Bulla. The creek descends approximately over its
course
Course may refer to:
Directions or navigation
* Course (navigation), the path of travel
* Course (orienteering), a series of control points visited by orienteers during a competition, marked with red/white flags in the terrain, and corresponding ...
.
[
Unregulated by major dams or diversions, the water levels in the creek show great seasonal variation.] Recently, Deep Creek flowed only seasonally along most of its length, although significant pools and stretches of water remain all year, some of which are local swimming holes.
Etymology
The creek was originally considered to be the extension of the Maribyrnong River, and as such has also been known as Saltwater River (an original name for the Maribyrnong River) or alternatively the Upper Maribyrnong River,[ Maribyrnong Creek,] Maribyrnong River East Branch or Maribyrnong River Left Branch. Another possible name for the river is Darraweit Guim, also the name of a small town located on the river. The name Deep Creek may refer to the deep valley the watercourse has cut through the plains north of Melbourne or the deep pools which have formed in the riverbed.
Geography
The named tributaries of the river, ordered upstream, are:
* Jacksons Creek
* Emu Creek
* Konagaderra Creek
* Boyd Creek
* Five Mile Creek
* Long Gully Creek
* Dry Creek
* Monument Creek
* Garden Hut Creek
Crossings
Named bridges and other significant crossing points along Deep Creek, ordered upstream, include but are not limited to:
* Bulla Bridge (current triple arch bluestone bridge built 1869, replacing an earlier timber bridge)
* Wildwood Rd
* Konagaderra Rd
* McCabes Bridge (Stockdale Rd)
* Darraweit Valley Rd
* Chintin Rd
* Gallaghers Ford (Joyces Rd)
* Dalys Bridge (Woodend – Wallan Rd)
* Sheehans Crossing bridge (Sheehans Rd)
* Forbes Bridge (Forbes Rd)
* Doggetts Bridge (Lancefield – Kilmore Rd)
* Musteys Bridge (Lancefield – Tooborac Rd)
* Linehans Bridge (Baynton Rd) (replaced by a low-level causeway during the 1990s, the old bridge is closed and derelict)
* Twin Bridges (Kyneton – Lancefield Rd)
* White Bridge (Whitebridge Rd)
See also
* List of rivers in Australia
Rivers are ordered alphabetically, by state. The same river may be found in more than one state as many rivers cross state borders.
Longest rivers nationally
Longest river by state or territory
Although the Murray River forms much of the bor ...
References
External links
{{Authority control
Melbourne Water catchment
Rivers of Greater Melbourne (region)
Rivers of Hume (region)
Rivers of Loddon Mallee (region)
Tributaries of the Maribyrnong River
City of Hume