Grahams Wetland Reserve

This little-known wetland reserve sits at the estuary, where the Werribee River meets Port Phillip Bay. It covers 22 hectares of saltmarsh, a distinct ecosystem that features salt-tolerant succulents, waterbirds, and fish.

The mudflats provide an expansive view of the bay, as well as the You Yangs. The Western Treatment Plant, which attracts migratory shorebirds in summer, sits on the other side of the river.

Both these sites provide high-value habitat for the Orange-bellied Parrot, which is listed as Critically Endangered under national and state environment laws. The Growling Grass Frog, classified as Vulnerable, is also associated with the area.

The interaction between fresh water and marine water, along with nutrient runoff from Werribee South farms, makes this coastal region a rich bed for seagrass, which in turn provide nurseries for fish such as black bream.

The reserve is named after a farmer from whom land was purchased in the 1970s by Wyndham City Council (then the Werribee Shire Council). While ideas for development have since been generated, Grahams Reserve remains mostly undisturbed.

Few coastal wetlands along south-eastern Australia are intact and in good condition. In recent years, Werribee River Association has worked alongside council to enhance indigenous vegetation in the area.

Grahams Reserve is also one of the target locations in the 2022-2023 frog survey undertaken by the Werribee River Association, kindly supported by Wyndham City.