Capital City Trail - Merri Creek Trail, Melbourne Metro area - 11.8 Kms

 U3A Hike No. 263

Hike Report by Terry

Our day started with one participant arriving with a bloody toe from an accident with a knife drop and conversations about some previous incidents when some were unable to get off in time at the correct station. Gordon reminded us it was a day where we were on shared trails with speedy cyclists, and we needed to be aware of the risk and care needed. No stress – we had a relaxing interesting day. It was so efficiently led and organised by Gordon, and he had plenty of information to share with us. We had a very interesting route, train connections to perfection and only the odd shower bursts in the late afternoon. There were plenty of calls from within our group to keep us safe and on the correct side to avoid the cyclists.

Ten of us headed off for this 12 km city walk after our travel from Ballarat to Southern Cross to Flemington Bridge Station. The Capital City trail led us through Royal Park and then onto the Inner Circle Trail through Princess Hill, paralleling Park Street. Near Rushall station we linked up with the Merri Creek Trail taking us from Fitzroy North up to Coburg. After Bell Street we still followed the Merri Creek and nearby reserve and arrived at our end point, Batman Station.

These old railway lines and creeks we walked along are the lungs of these urban areas. We moved through 12 kms of a busy city and yet it was surprisingly quiet. We could hear the birds. This is partly because you are at a lower elevation but also because of the natural vegetation planting undertaken by the different Councils and volunteer groups.

The interpretative signage with cultural information reminded us of Wurundjari connection to the land. In an area so heavily urbanised there are impressive efforts to increase and bring back natural vegetation and also show how the land was used by the traditional custodians.

Merri creek means “very rocky” in the Wurundjari language and has been picked up in the new naming of Moreland Council – now named Merri-bek.  We were spoilt with interesting and varied features along our walk.

Lots of contrast in what we saw. There were interesting interpretative signs celebrating indigenous culture along the way and then suddenly you are transported to another time and place as you admire the spires of the Russian Orthodox church. There was plenty of graffiti “art” on the bridges, but more impressive art were the sculptures of the litter trap that combined function and style and the huge bronze sculpture honouring Italian emigrants. The Kookaburra mural in another spot provided a nice artistic Aussie touch. Moving on from artistic features to river environment features also provided interest. The home gardeners amongst us were envious as we saw that rich soil in their plots and the progress they were making with their seedlings away from cold frosty Ballarat winters. We saw the specially constructed fish ladder designed to help fish move up and downstream.

Lunch break was spent at the Ceres Community Environmental Park and plenty of activity underway there to entertain us.  All day we came across many random unexpected things – the performing dog on the concrete roll, standing at the site of what was the deepest Bluestone quarry in Melbourne and many other features to keep up our engagement.

Thanks, Gordon, for the efficient and careful organisation of a most enjoyable walk.  There were so many different things to connect to as we walked along. In time for the 3.16 train at Southern Cross was an added bonus to the day.

Photos by Alan, Gordon, Teena and Terry