Taylors Creek Walking Track (Wallan)

The 1.6km (one-way) walking track runs alongside Taylors Creek from Taylors Lane to King William Drive. You can join the track anywhere along the way. The track is suitable for running, walking, cycling and prams. The starting point along Taylors Lane is near 44 Alexander Avenue.

There is a playground located at Lisa Place.

Taylors Creek Walking Track is also home to the Indigenous Plant Garden, located between Watson Street and Adrian Circuit. The Garden contains plants that are significant to the Wurundjeri culture. Interpretative signage along the track, incorporating the Woiwurrung language explains the common traditional indigenous uses of each plant within the garden.

There are plenty of rest stops along the way, including a picnic area at the Lisa Place playground.

Map of Route

The starting point is Taylors Lane, Wallan (parkland between Alexander Avenue and MacDonald Close).

Points of Interest include:

1. Taylors Lane
Entry point

2. Established pathways
Easy for walking, bikes and prams

3. Bench
Rest stop

4. Bench
Rest stop

5. Bench
Rest stop

6. Indigenous Plant Garden
Discover the Aboriginal names and uses for a variety of indigenous plants

7. Bench
Rest stop

8. Wattles
There are large established wattle trees along the path

9. Bench
Rest stop

10. Playground
This quiet Wallan park is a good place to take the kids to enjoy the playground

11. Picnic area
Located at Lisa Place Playground

12. Did you know? Signage
About willows

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted on leash.

Taylor's Creek Information Panels

The soil of the Taylors Creek is very prone to erosion. Creek bank vegetation helps keep the creek healthy. It acts as a buffer and filters out nutrient and sediment runoff. Trees, shrubs and small plants also control light and temperature in the stream and provide food and habitat for animals in the water and on land.

The kind of vegetation that originally covered the Taylors Creek area was known as Swampy Riparian Complex. Spreading Swamp Gums, thick shrub land, sedges and herbs were adapted to the waterlogged soils and flooding. Most of the original trees and plants died out when this area was drained many years ago and impacted by glazing and weed invasion.

Along Taylors Creek you will now see Wattles, Dogwoods, Correas, Hop Goodenias, Dianellas, Silver Banksias, River Bottlebrush and native grasses. These native plants help maintain water quality which is especially important as the Taylors Creek is at the top of the Merri Creek catchment, which runs into the Yarra River and ultimately down to Port Phillip Bay.

Did you know that a willow-lined waterway supports less than half the numbers of aquatic animals than those streams with native vegetation?

Willows may look beautiful, and were once thought useful for erosion control, but they harm the Australian environment and can actually contribute to erosion. That is why, as part of the "Willows out of Wallan" project, the willows were removed from Taylors Creek in 2007. They are now being replaced with indigenous native vegetation that would normally be occurring in the area.

Native animals and plant species are adapted to Australian climate and conditions. They support each other, providing essential food, shelter, pollination and pest control. Willows spread easily, shade out native plants and do not provide food for our native animals. These trees choke the waterway, with roots that reach into the watercourse, taking oxygen from the water and making the water uninhabitable for our native animals, such as water birds and fish.

Review:

Taylor's Creek doesn't actually have water in it for the entire length of the walk unless there has been heavy rain.

The track runs between residential streets on one side and a thickly vegetated creek on the other side. Generally there is a gravel path lined with trees. A highlight is the Indigenous Garden. In this area to the north the creek banks become deeper and there is more water in the creek. At King William Drive you reach the end of the walk and return back along the same route. There were lots of dogs having a walk (on-leash).

There is no water tap or bin along the walk but there are a number of seats to have a rest on.