By Alesha Capone
The Cheetham Wetlands covers 420 hectares of artificial and natural lagoons, on the site of an old saltworks.
The wetlands, which are located across the municipalities of Wyndham and Hobsons Bay, are part of the Point Cook Coastal Park.
The site is protected under the Ramsar Convention and supports many species of birds which migrate to the southern hemisphere every year, including the Red-necked stint, Fairy tern, Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Double-banded plover and Yellow sedge-skipper.
An observation tower for birdwatching, which is named Migration and Aspirations, provides 360 degree views of the wetlands.
The tower, which also provides views of Melbourne’s CBD, is located 1.5 kilometres from the wetlands’ gate entry and is reachable by walking.
According to the Melbourne History Research Group, William Taylor was the first European to settle at Point Cook in 1849.
Thomas Chirnside purchased land from him in 1852 and later constructed the nearby Point Cook Homestead.
Mr Chirnside sold the land in 1920, and in 1924 a saltworks was established on the lower reaches of Skeleton Creek.
The land was later acquired by the government and, in 1996, was set aside to protect the wetlands and migratory birds.
Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski captured these images of the wetlands’ beauty last month.
