Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve

Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve is an important riparian bushland park located on the border of Donvale, in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The reserve comprises of 7.2 hectares of lush and varied vegetation, including remnant and regenerated bushland. The Mullum Mullum Creek Trail runs through the reserve, and there are unsealed bush tracks to explore.

The land where the reserve stands today was once a stone quarry operated by the Nunawading Council. After the Melbourne bushfires in 1962, the land was declared to be developed into a public park. The site was chosen for a native plant park, known as Yarran Dheran, and over 40,000 trees and shrubs were planted. Major earthworks began in 1975, and the development of the park continued.

Yarran Dheran falls into the category of Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Valley Heathy Forest. It is home to various native flora, including eucalyptus trees such as the Manna Gum, Yellow Box, and Narrow Leaf Peppermint. There are also middle storey plants like Sweet Bursaria, Cherry Ballart, and Golden Wattle. The reserve is a habitat for 85 species of birds, including rare species like the Owlet Night-jar, as well as other wildlife such as Superb Fairy Wrens, Grey Fantails, and Eastern Yellow Robins.

The Mullum Mullum Creek provides a wildlife corridor for birds and other wildlife, extending to its confluence with the Yarra River at Templestowe. Animals like Swamp Wallabies, Eastern Long-necked Turtles, and Tiger Snakes can also be spotted within the reserve. Recent DNA