balcombe estuary*

Balcombe Creek is the last unspoilt and most significant waterway entering the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay. It rises south of Frankston, flows through the Moorooduc Plains and is joined by the Devilbend Creek to flow into the Briars wetland. The estuary in Mt Martha is much loved by the locals and Balcombe Consutl.ing's Managing Director Sue O'Connor. 

West of the Nepean Highway, the creek flows for nearly three kilometres through the riverbank bush and widens into a tidal estuary before entering the bay and Mt Martha Creek. This coastal estuary and wetland contain dense Melaleuca swamps and other flora and fauna of very high local and regional significance.

The Boonerwurung (one of several spellings) were the original inhabitants of this area. Balcombe Estuary was a favoured place for camping and meeting, providing them with a rich diversity of food. Permanent European settlement occurred in the 1830’s. The Briars homestead was built by AB Balcombe in the 1840s next to Balcombe Creek.

BERG – the Balcombe Estuary Rehabilitation Group – was formed by local residents in 1997 and the active group is continuing to carry out major regeneration of the bushland throughout the reserves. Their website is www.berg.org.au

*Edited extract from the BERG website.