Patterson River
Encyclopedia
The Patterson River is a partly man-made waterway located approximately 35km south-east of Melbourne
, Australia
in Patterson Lakes, Carrum and Bonbeach.
As one of the few designated safe harbours on the city side of the bay, the Patterson River is the most popular boating gateway to Port Phillip Bay. The thriving canal system of the Patterson Lakes residential area and the wet and dry storage at the Patterson Lakes Marina
combine with four public boat ramps to make an extremely busy waterway.
was divided into 18 allotments and sold by auction for around three pounds per acre. In 1871 the government opened it for selection. The swamp was an impediment to the settlers and there was much discussion on how to reclaim the land, the first contracts for drainage works commenced in 1873. Attempts to reclaim the lower swamplands were ineffective. In 1876 it was decided to cut a 10-metre wide channel to Port Phillip Bay through widening and deepening Carrum Creek. It was to be known as ‘Patterson Cut’ and had been named after a State Parliamentarian - the Hon. J.B. Patterson.
The suburb of Patterson Lakes was to be located in Carrum on what was originally part of the Carrum Carrum Swamp . The Carrum Carrum Swamp was drained in 1879 when the Patterson Cut (formed in 1876), and other drainage measures were undertaken to prevent flooding of the Eumemmering Creek, which overflowed into the Carrum Carrum Swamp. When the Patterson Cut was dug the area that is now occupied by Patterson Lakes was turned to farmland with mainly dairy cattle. By the late 1960's farming activities had just about ceased, and the area was popular with fox and rabbit shooters.
In 1974 the first soil was turned in the preliminary stages of the development of Patterson Lakes, where sites for housing and apartments overlooking the marina and the river were identified. A canal system called the Tidal Canal and the Quiet Lakes were developed, where the Tidal Canal adjoined to the Patterson River.
Indigenous floral species include the silver wattle, lightwood, blackwood, black she-oak, river red gum, spike wattle, hedge wattle, scrub she-oak, jagged fireweed, silver top wallaby grass, Australian salt grass and the blue tussock grass.
Non-indigenous floral species include the sheep's burr, angled onion, lesser joyweed, broom spurge, common swamp wallaby grass, pointed centrolepis, common spikerush and small spikerush.
Reptile species include the Bougainville's skink, grass skink, tree dragon, copperhead snake and tiger snak.
Aquatic species include the striped marsh frog, water rat, platypus, bream, flathead, tupong, Australian salmon, leatherjacket, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally, black crab, spider crab, eel, bass yabbies, mussels and pippies.
Bird species include the nankeen (rufous) night heron, white-faced heron, chestnut teal, straw-necked ibis, pacific black duck, pacific gull, silver gull, magpie-lark, Australian pelican, little pied cormmorant, royal spoonbill, masked lapwing, whiskered (marsh) tern and the caspian tern.
External links=
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in Patterson Lakes, Carrum and Bonbeach.
As one of the few designated safe harbours on the city side of the bay, the Patterson River is the most popular boating gateway to Port Phillip Bay. The thriving canal system of the Patterson Lakes residential area and the wet and dry storage at the Patterson Lakes Marina
Patterson Lakes Marina
Patterson Lakes Marina is largest marina in Victoria which is situated 1.25 kilometres away from Port Phillip Bay. Travelling time is 35 minutes from Melbourne, and 50 minutes to Portsea. Patterson Lakes Marina is known as the gateway to bustling waterways and the Peninsula via its access to...
combine with four public boat ramps to make an extremely busy waterway.
History
In 1866 the Carrum Carrum Swamp was surveyed and the land between Mordialloc Creek and Keast Park in SeafordSeaford
-In the United States of America:*Seaford, Delaware*Seaford, New York*Seaford, Virginia*Seaford Hundred, an unincorporated subdivision of Sussex County, Delaware; see List of Delaware Hundreds-In Australia:*Seaford, Victoria**Seaford railway station, Melbourne...
was divided into 18 allotments and sold by auction for around three pounds per acre. In 1871 the government opened it for selection. The swamp was an impediment to the settlers and there was much discussion on how to reclaim the land, the first contracts for drainage works commenced in 1873. Attempts to reclaim the lower swamplands were ineffective. In 1876 it was decided to cut a 10-metre wide channel to Port Phillip Bay through widening and deepening Carrum Creek. It was to be known as ‘Patterson Cut’ and had been named after a State Parliamentarian - the Hon. J.B. Patterson.
The suburb of Patterson Lakes was to be located in Carrum on what was originally part of the Carrum Carrum Swamp . The Carrum Carrum Swamp was drained in 1879 when the Patterson Cut (formed in 1876), and other drainage measures were undertaken to prevent flooding of the Eumemmering Creek, which overflowed into the Carrum Carrum Swamp. When the Patterson Cut was dug the area that is now occupied by Patterson Lakes was turned to farmland with mainly dairy cattle. By the late 1960's farming activities had just about ceased, and the area was popular with fox and rabbit shooters.
In 1974 the first soil was turned in the preliminary stages of the development of Patterson Lakes, where sites for housing and apartments overlooking the marina and the river were identified. A canal system called the Tidal Canal and the Quiet Lakes were developed, where the Tidal Canal adjoined to the Patterson River.
Facilities
- Undercover picnic areas and electric barbecues.
- Bike trails to Mordialloc, Dandenong, FrankstonFrankston, VictoriaFrankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula...
and MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. - Plentiful estuary fishing (bream, mullet) and well equipped tackle and bait.
- Board walks and an indoor/outdoor cafe.
- Coast Guard on duty weekends.
- Charter vessels.
- Public launching ramps at Launching Way, located off McLeod Road, Carrum.
Indigenous
Indigenous floral species include the silver wattle, lightwood, blackwood, black she-oak, river red gum, spike wattle, hedge wattle, scrub she-oak, jagged fireweed, silver top wallaby grass, Australian salt grass and the blue tussock grass.
Non-indigenous
Non-indigenous floral species include the sheep's burr, angled onion, lesser joyweed, broom spurge, common swamp wallaby grass, pointed centrolepis, common spikerush and small spikerush.
Reptiles
Reptile species include the Bougainville's skink, grass skink, tree dragon, copperhead snake and tiger snak.
Aquatic species
Aquatic species include the striped marsh frog, water rat, platypus, bream, flathead, tupong, Australian salmon, leatherjacket, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally, black crab, spider crab, eel, bass yabbies, mussels and pippies.
Birds
Bird species include the nankeen (rufous) night heron, white-faced heron, chestnut teal, straw-necked ibis, pacific black duck, pacific gull, silver gull, magpie-lark, Australian pelican, little pied cormmorant, royal spoonbill, masked lapwing, whiskered (marsh) tern and the caspian tern.
Fishing
Surprisingly, the Patterson River abounds with fish. Considered that there have been several reports of illegal fishing over the last few years, the fish always seem to fight back in this popular waterway. A number of charter companies operate from Patterson River. Bream and a few other varieties of fish can be sourced from the Tidal Canal and Patterson River systems.Surfing
During strong westerly winds 3-4ft sloppy waves are produced which mostly occur during Spring. The Patterson River Motor Boat Club has a web cam, which can be used to see the conditions. Boaties tend to not go out when it is suitable for surfing, making it ideal, however Patterson River is a busy waterway, so surfers must be aware of their surroundings.External links=
- Parks Victoria: Patterson River
- Patterson Lakes
- Patterson Lakes MarinaPatterson Lakes MarinaPatterson Lakes Marina is largest marina in Victoria which is situated 1.25 kilometres away from Port Phillip Bay. Travelling time is 35 minutes from Melbourne, and 50 minutes to Portsea. Patterson Lakes Marina is known as the gateway to bustling waterways and the Peninsula via its access to...