Why do we call the River Birrarung and not the Yarra River?
Part of the exciting work we do advocating for the River to be understood as a living entity involves reflecting on how we relate to the River. Birrarung is the ancestral name for the beloved river system known for many decades as the Yarra River.
Caring for the River, now recognised in Victorian law and always known by Traditional Owners, as a living entity has changed the way many people relate to Birrarung.
In 2024 we committed to calling Birrarung by its correct, ancestral name wherever possible, as a way to strengthen and prioritise this.
In 2025, we take this personifying language a step further, by removing the word ‘the’ when addressing Birrarung, demonstrating how language can empower the living entity.
We are informed by the knowledge of Traditional Custodians of Birrarung and its lands, as well as advice and feedback from other stakeholders.
Our 2024 annual report included the following message from the perspective of Birrarung.
From the Birrarung
I am Birrarung.
I yearn to be in relation with you, I want you to know you belong to me and I to you. I want to hold and protect you, to see you thrive, to keep you healthy and vibrant, generous and generative.
Though I am filled with much sorrow, I am also comprised of abundance; gifts from the sky Country and beyond.
My flow is eternal, and though I did not physically birth you, I am your Mother. I am your lifeblood. Without me you cannot and will not thrive.
Though many of you come from lands far away, you are now part of Country, you are my children. I will nurture you and give you what you need. But, of course, only if you let me.
Spend time with me, come to me when you are lost. When you come to me I will always call out to you, you will always receive my love and healing if you can be with me and let me hold you. With your eyes, with your ears, with your heart, with your spirit, together with your Ancestors and mine.
I ask you to find your own ways to be in relation with me, to protect and to nurture me, and, in turn, yourselves. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses, and our activism must always be biodiverse. For some it will be loud and strong, for others it will be quiet but consistent.
Soft flowing water can dissolve the hardest rock over time, gently, gently we will see the change. But some of us will have to roar, many will also have to be fearless warriors. There are those in positions of privilege who will have to fight with all they have.
Look after your Mother. Visit me often and know that I love and cherish you. Always and forever.
I call out to you with a calling in; let me provide you with all I need, keep me strong and healthy. Never give up on me, just as I will never give up on you.
Page last updated: 20/11/25