The Yarra River transects the City of Melbourne in South Eastern Australia after flowing 246 km from Mount Matlock in the Eastern Highlands of the Australian State of Victoria to Hobson's Bay, a busy corner of Port Phillip Bay. It was discovered by Charles Grimes in 1803, the same year Tasmania was settled. The River mouth was a swamp which was dredged to provide for the requirements of the Port of Melbourne. Yarra is an aboriginal word which means "running water".

In 1835, 600,000 acres around the head of Port Phillip Bay was purchased by John Batman and then a couple of months later, John Fawkner set up a commercial hub in what was to become the town. It can be imagined that as Melbourne grew through the next century the Yarra must have suffered some indignity. The taking of upstream water for irrigation, water supply required by the people, and industrialisation on the banks would have contributed to the slowing of the flow and the concentration of waste in the river. The health of the River is now a priority for Melbournians, and signs are that the value of the River as a tourist drawcard and recreational facility are increasing.

The Yarra River is the focal point for many recreational and leisure activities. Rowing has always been popular, and the River Taxi service can be seen busily ferrying people to and from landings upstream. The development of tourism and leisure industries such as restaurants and conference centres has encouraged development of the foreshore especially in the area where the River runs closest to the commercial centre of the City of Melbourne. Melbourne is Australia's largest city. It is the Capital of Victoria and was the capital of Australia from Federation (1901) until 1927 when the purpose built city of Canberra, designed by Sir Walter Burley Griffin, was proclaimed the Capital of Australia to sate the interstate rivalry between New South Wales and Victoria.

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