Werribee River

Werribee (Wirribi-yaluk)
River
Werribee River at Exford, downstream from Melton Reservoir
Name origin: Aboriginal (Boonwurrung/Wathawurrung): wirribi meaning "backbone".
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Regions	Victorian Midlands (IBRA), Western District, Port Phillip
Local government areas	Moorabool, Melton, Wyndham
Part of	Port Phillip catchment
Tributaries
- left	Lerderderg River, Toolern Creek
Cities	Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Werribee
Source	Great Dividing Range
- location	Wombat State Forest near Korweinguboora
- elevation	501 m (1,644 ft)
- coordinates	37°26′S 144°10′E / 37.433°S 144.167°E / -37.433; 144.167
Mouth	Port Phillip
- location	near Werribee South
- elevation	9 m (30 ft)
- coordinates	37°58′42″S 144°41′40″E / 37.97833°S 144.69444°E / -37.97833; 144.69444Coordinates: 37°58′42″S 144°41′40″E / 37.97833°S 144.69444°E / -37.97833; 144.69444
Length	110 km (68 mi)
National park	Werribee Gorge State Park
Reservoir	Melton Reservoir
Location of the Werribee River mouth in Victoria

The Werribee River is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment that is located on the plain west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The headwaters of a tributary, the Lerderderg River, are north of Ballan near Daylesford and it flows across the basalt plain, through the suburb of Werribee to enter Port Phillip. A linear park follows the Werribee River along much of its course. In total the Werribee River completes a journey of approximately 110 kilometres (68 mi).

The river flows through the Werribee Gorge State Park before being utilised for irrigation of market gardens at Bacchus Marsh, then through Werribee where it is crossed by the Maltby By-pass. It then flows through the Werribee Open Range Zoo in Werribee Park, and finally the small coastal settlement of Werribee South before entering Port Phillip. The Western Treatment Plant, a sewage treatment site, is located near the mouth of the river, and supplies irrigation needs to the zoo.

The Werribee River Trail winds beside the Werribee River from Davis Creek in Tarneit to the Princes Highway in Werribee.

Before the arrival of white settlers, the Werribee River was the boundary of the Bunurong tribe whose six clans lived along the Victorian coast across the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port Bay to Wilsons Promontory.