Kooyong Koot, colloquially known as Gardiner's Creek, is the thread that connects most of Boroondara together. It is today unrecognisable from its original form but community and Council efforts to return it to its former glory continue. In this post, I thought I would eschew my usual words and share the photographs and pictures I've acquired of Gardiner's Creek over the years.
Images from the State Library of Victoria
From Boroondara Library Service
Malvern Historical Society
From the Public Records Office Victoria
The Camberwell vicinity of the creek
The 1950s heralded the start of significant population growth in the area around Gardiner's Creek. Hawthorn, Malvern and Camberwell Councils had bought the land along the creek for sporting fields. The Government undertook major works to try and manage the Creek's regular flooding problem.
This photograph on the left of Peace Street was labelled "Camberwell" but Peace Street is now in Glen Iris. The large paddock in the mid-distance is probably now Dorothy Laver Reserve.
This sequence from 1953 depicts the creek around Ashburton: from left, downstream from the Winton Road Bridge, downstream from the Solway Street Bridge; and near Holmesglen (the Holmesglen factory is in the far distance).
These photographs from 1959 show works on Gardiner's Creek near High Street Road, towards Blackburn.
This series of photographs from June 1965 and June 1966 depict works on Gardiner's Creek in Hawthorn, between Glenferrie and Toorak Roads (except the bottom right corner that is near Warrigal Road). The photographer believed the bricks and berm (the cobblestone-looking floor) dated to 1938. This was probably undertaken in response to the 1934 flooding event.
This series of unmarked photographs I found at PROV date (I think) to 1985. You can see there is far more structure and reinforcement to the creek than before. It looks to me like Gardiner's Creek around Ashburton although I am not sure about the tunnel in the top right. Possibly under Warrigal Road?
Fairfax Photograph Service
This photograph from 1968 depicts the path of the proposed South-eastern Freeway as running parallel to Gardiner's Creek. Both St Kevins and Scotch College launched legal proceedings protesting the incursion of the Freeway on their properties. The Government heavily compensated both schools for the imposition. Expansions to the Freeway in the 1970s also incurred their wrath. As a result, the Government raised the Freeway and paid Scotch College $1 million in compensation for the loss of a moderate section of their property.
This photograph from 1975 depicts the recovery of Margaret Elliott's body from Gardiner's Creek. Her murder remains unsolved.
This photograph from 2003 depicts a clean up effort in Gardiner's Creek after a petrol spill. Note the significant amount of accumulated rubbish. Some of it is probably still there today. Sigh.
A fisherman with his grand-daughter under the Citylink overpass at Hawthorn. Apparently he caught a Murray Cod there once. I know a day fishing is better than a day at work but I dunno, seems like there's nicer spots than under a freeway.
Miscellaneous photos I've collected
The old Solway Street Bridge before it was washed away in Melbourne's annual Once-in-a-Hundred-Year-Freak-Weather Event of 2015.
Gardiner's Creek around Hawthorn, 2024. The City of Stonnington is planning a rejuvenation project of the Gardiner's Creek Trail (where these photos were taken) that really can't come soon enough.
Winter morning after rain, Gardiner's Creek - AGSA Collection