Herring Island Sculpture Park

Story

Herring Island is a small artificial island located in Melbourne's Yarra River at South Yarra, approximately from the city centre. It is the only island in the Yarra River.Herring Island was formed in 1928 by cutting a channel through an old basalt quarry. The island was leased for many years by the scout movement, who named it after their patron, Sir Edmund Herring, the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The Island contains indigenous vegetation, and provides important habitat for native fauna, particularly birds. It is currently managed by Parks Victoria and used as a sculpture park. Sculptures include works by Jill Peck, Ellen Jose, and Andy Goldsworthy.HistoryHerring Island is an artificial island that was formed in 1928 by cutting a new path for the Yarra River through an old basalt quarry, as part of a plan to control flooding of the river. The new island, which was initially called Como Island, was built up with silt dredged from the river. Levee banks were constructed up on the island, and trees and shrubs were planted; but they were swept away by a major flood in November 1934.After the flood waters receded, new trees and shrubs were planted, and the levees were built up with more river silt. The island was leased by the scouts in the 1950s and 1960s. They renamed the island after their president, Sir Edmund Herring, who was also the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria. In 1994, Parks Victoria assumed control of the island, and turned it into a wildlife reserve and recreational park. The Friends of Herring Island have assisted Parks Victoria in re-establishing native vegetation on the island