Pipemakers Park and Maribyrnong River Loop Walk (Maribyrnong)

An easy 4.1km loop walk which takes you along the Maribyrnong river, around a small lake and new wetlands, finishing among the wonderful gardens of Pipemakers Park.

The park entrance is on Van Ness Avenue. Continue to the second car park. Start your walk at the lovely old bluestone buildings by the Maribyrnong River. Keep these building to your left until you arrive at the river. These buildings, built in 1848, were initially used to boil tallow for candles. The site was later to become a meat cannery (exporting canned stews to the UK between 1868 and 1886), and more recently a pipe factory, which closed in 1978. For a while they housed the Living Museum of the West, but had to be abandoned due to structural issues.

When you meet the river, turn right, passing under the red pedestrian foot-bridge.

A short while later, take the white gravel path that veers right away from the river, past lush vegetation that surrounds a small pond. It's a perfect home for many water birds.

Just south of the pond, and before the lake, there is a bluestone ford. If you would like a shorter walk you can cross this ford and walk back along the river towards the park.

Continuing south along the edge of the lake, you are sure to see lots of birdlife. Just past the boat mooring platform there is the option of stopping at a cafe.

At the end of the lake there is another bluestone ford, but don't turn left here. Instead, continue a little further along, enjoying the newly developed wetlands. Follow the path around a small pond to the river bank. Turn left when you meet the river, back towards the park.

Just after you pass under the red foot-bridge, turn left. This path takes you past the BBQ area (and toilet). It is located next to the first car park and is ideal for a picnic feast midway through your walk. After the BBQ area, turn right onto a dirt track that meanders through a small pocket of wetlands.

You will soon spot the gardens on your left. Head there and take your time wandering around, there are lots of things to discover.

When you reach the other end of the gardens, turn left, back to the bluestone buildings.

BBQs, picnic tables and a drinking water fountain are located near the end of the walk. There is a cafe on the route.

Toilets are located beside the Pipemakers playground.




Interactive Map

Points of Interest

1. Bluestone buildings
These historic bluestone buildings are where to start your walk.



From the 1840s these buildings were the site of a number of innovations in packaging and exporting meat and meat products associated with the growing pastoral industry in Victoria to the local market and overseas, mostly to England.

Tallow - Early Industry in the 1840s with Raleigh's Boiling Down Establishment involved boiling down tallow, which was used for products like candles and soap for the new colony.

Innovative experiments using a new vacuum process in the canning process of meat were carried out on this site by the Melbourne Meat Preserving Company from the 1860s to 1888. In 1870 half of the canned meat imported by Britain from Australia came from this site.

Frozen Meat -
From 1880 to 1882 the Australian Frozen Meat Export Company was at the site carrying out some of the first experimental shipments of frozen meat in the world.

This site has been highly significant in the history of the pastoral industry which was the main industry that built early Melbourne.

2. Willy Wagtails
You are sure to spot Willy Wagtails darting about. When feeding they distract insects by wagging and fanning their tail.

3. The walking route
The route is flat and accessible to all. It is mostly paved and has very well maintained gravel tracks. A short section at the end is not readily accessible by wheelchair, and can easily be avoided.

Within Pipemakers Park is an Irish shelter which is dedicated to Pioneer Irish women who operated punts, hotels and farms, from the 1840's along the Salt Water River (the former name of the Maribyrnong River). This area near the start of the walk has a water tap with dog bowl, bike repair station and toilets.

There is a pedestrian bridge across the river but do not use the bridge.

4. Cumbungi
Around the first small pond there is lots of Cumbungi growing. It provides protection against bank erosion and is an excellent nesting site for water birds.

There is a 300m detour to Jack's Magazine, a former explosives storage facility which opened in 1878. It was used to safely store gunpowder imported into the colony of Victoria. The site later provided storage for other dangerous materials used in the ammunition factories close by. Jack's Magazine spurred the growth of military industry in the area that became known as the 'arsenal of Australia'. Filling 12 hectares of space, the site includes tramways, tunnels, buildings and a bluestone perimeter wall. Working Heritage run the tours fortnightly.

5. Riverside pathway
The path alongside the river is a wide shared path. There are also sections of gravel path nearer the river bank as an alternative to the shared path.

6. Lounging by the lake
This recently developed area provides some wonderful resting options with cafes and eating places in the apartment block behind.



7. Little Pied Cormorant
Cormorants and seagulls spend time resting and socialising around the moorings here. The cormorants dive in shallow waters to find fish and crustaceans.

8. Wetlands
Built as part of the nearby apartment development, the wetlands cleanse the stormwater entering the river and provide a habitat for wildlife.

9. Masked Lapwing (or Plover)
Around the lake and billabong is a feast of birdlife, including the Masked Lapwing, Eurasian Coots, Purple Moorhens, Seagulls and Ducks.

10. BBQ Area
Near the end of the walk, and close to the car park, is a BBQ area with park benches and a drinking water fountain. A great place for a picnic after your walk.

11. History of the Land Garden
The gorgeous garden is a patchwork of small ornamental gardens and mosaics. Information boards describe the many uses of the area over the years.



12. Mosaic
One of the many colourful mosaics in the garden depicts Aboriginal life before European settlers arrived.

13. Bluestone fords
The first of two bluestone fords - you can turn left here, cross the ford and turn left again when you meet the river to make a shorter version of the walk.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted on leash.

Photos:

Location

32 Van Ness Avenue,  Maribyrnong 3032 Map

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Web Links

→ Pipemakers Park (and Maribyrnong River) (Walking Maps)


Pipemakers Park and Maribyrnong River Loop Walk (Maribyrnong)32 Van Ness Avenue,, Maribyrnong, Victoria, 3032