Herring Island (Victoria)

Herring Island is a small island located in Melbourne's Yarra River at South Yarra, approximately 3km from the city. Originally a quarry, it was leased by the scouts in the 1950's and 1960's and is currently managed by Parks Victoria and used as a sculpture park. It is named for Sir Edmund Francis Herring a Lieutenant governor of Victoria, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Herring Island is an important environmental and recreational asset in Melbourne's inner suburbs, and forms an important focus for the linear parkland proposed for the lower reaches of the Yarra River.The Island contains indigenous vegetation, and provides important habitat for native fauna, particularly birds. Such areas are rare in the inner suburbs, and are a valuable ecological resource. Herring Island is also an important recreational resource which provides opportunities for nature study, passive recreation and adventure play.

Herring Island is little known to the people of Melbourne despite its prominent position in the Yarra River. For years, the Island had been used as a depository for silt dredged from the Yarra River and has experienced periods of neglect. This has left a legacy of land degradation, particularly soil salting, tree dieback, and weed invasion.

The Friends group is working with Parks Victoria to restore the Island. There is a unique opportunity to become involved in this project, as new members and associates are welcome.

Access to the island is from a punt service that leaves from Como landing.

ee also

* Environmental art
* Environmental sculpture

External links

* [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=113 Parks Victoria - Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park]

* [http://www.vicnet.net.au/~herring Friends of Herring Island]