Have you ever heard a place name and wondered, “How on earth did it get that name?” Here in The Gurdies, it’s a question we get a lot. The name is a whimsical echo of its wild past, a reminder of “The Hurdy Gurdy” pastoral run that once sprawled across this land. Now, “Hurdy Gurdy” itself comes from “Hirdie Girdie”, a Scottish term painting a vivid picture of untamed, rugged wilderness. Imagine those early settlers, perhaps fresh off the boat, gazing upon this landscape for the first time – a sea of eucalyptus trees stretching as far as the eye can see, the land echoing with unfamiliar bird calls. Back then, The Gurdies was truly a world away. Today, The Gurdies still retains some of that wild charm. The nearby Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve and Hurdy Gurdy Creek Nature Conservation Reserve are testaments to the area’s rich natural heritage. These reserves, teeming with diverse flora and fauna, offer a glimpse into the past, a time when The Gurdies truly lived up to its name.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs