thumb|right|Maribyrnong River in the suburb of Maribyrnong

The Maribyrnong River is a perennial river

Middle reaches

thumb|right|Maribyrnong River at Brimbank Park

The river flows south and west. At Keilor the river winds back on itself in a giant horseshoe bend, before winding south again at Brimbank Park. Here the river flows below the western plains. Brimbank Park forms a huge amphitheatre in the bend in the river with picnic areas, cycle and walking trails, and a café, that is usually busy on weekends and holidays. The area is rich in birdlife and native fauna. The Maribyrnong River Trail shared path starts at Brimbank Park, following mostly beside the river to near its confluence with the Yarra River in Footscray. At Avondale Heights and Essendon West residents have views over the river valley to the skyscrapers of the Melbourne CBD. Up until this area, the Maribyrnong is unusual in being one of the few large basaltic streams in Victoria. The Maribyrnong is a freshwater river as far downstream as Solomon's Ford, Avondale Heights.

Lower reaches

thumb|Aerial panorama of Flemington Racecourse along the Maribyrnong, 2018

The river becomes estuarine as it flows through Avondale Heights.

  • Yarraville Wharves
  • Maribyrnong Berth
  • Newells Paddock Wetlands
  • Burndap Lakes
  • Jacks Canal
  • Frogs Hollow Wetland
  • Cliffs
  • Steele or Rose Creek
  • Grimes Flat
  • Kulin Wetlands
  • Taylors Creek
  • Horseshoe Bend
  • Gumms Corner
  • Arundel Creek
  • Jackson Creek / Deep Creek

Etymology

The river was initially named Saltwater River by early settlers, due to the tidal nature of its lower reaches. The name Maribyrnong however, is derived from mirring-gnay-bir-nong which in Woiwurrung, the language of the local Wurundjeri people, is said to mean "I can hear a ringtail possum" or "saltwater river" (Gunung or Gunnung is Woiwurrung for river, as seen in the names of other watercourses in the area, such as; Koonung Creek and Birrarung).

Marriburnong is an alternate spelling listed on a map dated from 1840.

  • Shepherd Bridge – primary arterial road
  • South Kensington-West Footscray railway
  • Hopetoun Bridge – primary arterial road
  • Suburban railway to Footscray
  • Former stock bridge – relocated from Punt Road, South Yarra
  • Lynchs Bridge – primary arterial road
  • Farnsworth Avenue Bridge – secondary arterial road
  • Pipemakers Park Footbridge
  • Maribyrnong Road Bridge – primary arterial road
  • Afton Street Footbridge – pedestrian
  • Canning Street Bridge (1970) – primary arterial roadthumb|Solomon's Ford, Avondale Heights
  • Medway Golf Club Footbridge
  • Solomons Ford – historic crossing point
  • Maribyrnong River Viaduct, on the Albion-Jacana railway
  • E.J. Whitten Bridge – Western Ring Road
  • Ford
  • Ford
  • Old Calder Highway Bridge – primary arterial road
  • Historic Calder Bridge (1868)
  • Calder Freeway Bridge
  • Flora Street Bridge – local road and private access
  • Historic Arundel Road Bridge – (built 1906-7, closed to vehicles 1989, closed to pedestrians 2007)
  • Arundel Road Bridge (1989) – local road
  • West Gate Tunnel elevated section (2025) - toll road

Flora and fauna

thumb|The river as it flows through Aberfeldie

thumb|right|A [[starfish in the Maribyrnong River near the Flemington Racecourse]]

Native species

Many native species exist along the Maribyrnong River with many species thriving in the area. Native mammals include swamp wallabies, grey-headed flying foxes, common brushtail possums, common ringtail possums, water rats, echidnas, and platypus in the upper reaches of the river. Native reptile species include eastern brown snakes, tiger snakes, skinks, and common snakeneck turtles. Native birds include the eastern whipbird, cockatoo, rainbow lorikeet, galah, brown falcon, peregrine falcon, square-tailed kite, royal spoonbill, black swan, Pacific black duck, little pied cormorant, moorhen, and long-billed corella. There are various native frogs and native fish species include the short-finned eel, tupong, short-headed lamprey, Australian grayling, southern black bream, common galaxias, broad-finned galaxias and spotted galaxias. Starfish may also be found in the river.

thumb|The river as seen from the [[Maribyrnong Road Bridge]]

Introduced species

Introduced species include the red fox, European rabbit, and feral cat. While introduced birds include the song thrush, common blackbird, common myna, common starling, house sparrow, spotted turtle dove, rock pigeon, and mallard. Common carp have also been introduced to the river.

Environmental issues

The Maribyrnong River faces various environmental issues, apart from introduced pest species, also pollution and contamination – arsenic and heavy metals from industry and litter including one trap to mitigate litter entering the river from stormwater. Today, industrial pollution still occurs due to poor chemical handling practices, improper storage, and dilapidated infrastructure. Continued land development for housing causes soil disturbance resulting in increased river turbidity.