Barwon River (New South Wales)

Coordinates: 29°57′29″S 146°18′28″E / 29.95806°S 146.30778°E / -29.95806; 146.30778
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Barwon
Upper Darling River
Orana
TownsMungindi, Collarenebri, Brewarrina,
Physical characteristics
SourceMacintyre River
 • locationnorth of Mungindi, Southern Downs, Queensland
 • elevation196 m (643 ft)
2nd sourceWeir River
Orana region
 • coordinates
29°57′29″S 146°18′28″E / 29.95806°S 146.30778°E / -29.95806; 146.30778
 • elevation
110 m (360 ft)
Length700 km (430 mi)
Basin features
River systemMurray–Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftGwydir River, Mehi River, Namoi River, Macquarie River, Bogan River
 • rightBoomi River, Moonie River, Bokhara River
[3]

Barwon River, a

, Australia.

The name "barwon" is derived from the

Aboriginal people are closely intertwined with the Barwon River and its associated tributaries and downstream flows.[4]

Course

The river is formed through the

Narran Lakes and the Narran River also flows into the Barwon. The confluence of the Barwon and Culgoa rivers, between Brewarrina and Bourke, marks the start of the Darling River
.

From its head to the point where it reaches the 29th parallel south near the town of Mungindi, the course of the Barwon is the border between Queensland and New South Wales.

Towns on the Barwon River, from its source towards its mouth include Mungindi,

Walgett
, and Brewarrina.

The catchment and water flows of the Barwon River are generally administered by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and together with the Darling River, the catchment covers about 13% of the Murray-Darling Basin.[4]

In December 2018, amidst drought, the Barwon River at Walgett ceased flowing, reduced to a series of stagnant pools.[5]

History

Walgett

Aboriginal history

Aboriginal people from six language groups originally occupied the area of the Barwon River

Kamilaroi peoples. The Aboriginal people generally used the wetlands for hunting, fishing, and gathering uses, and for cultural association.[6]

Aboriginal people built a complex series of

Australian National Heritage List owing to the rarity of these works. They are of importance to modern Aboriginal people and are still in use.[6] There are rocky rapids above and below Collarenebri as well as weirs and other structures for irrigation which impede normal navigation of the river.[7]

European history

In 1846, Roderick Mitchell, Commissioner of Crown Lands and the son of explorer, Sir Thomas Mitchell, proved that the Barwon and MacIntyre Rivers were the same river under different names.[7]

Regular steamer services ran from Walgett to Bourke from 1880 to 1912. During the floods of 1879 and 1886 the steamers were able to travel into Collarenebri and as far as Mungindi in 1890.

The Brewarrina Lift Bridge, which was built in 1888 over the Barwon River on the Kamilaroi Highway, has also been assessed as being of state significance.[8] The Boonanga bridge completed in 1928 to cross the Barwon River near Boomi, is an early example of Allan timber truss road bridges. This bridge has been recorded with the NSW State Agency Heritage Register.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Barwon River". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 January 2013. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Fab Facts, Landforms, Australian Rivers". Geoscience Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  3. ^ "Map of Barwon River". Bonzle.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Barwon–Darling". Explore the Basin: How the river runs. Murray–Darling Basin Authority. 2008. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  5. ^ Carbonell, Rachel; Davies, Jessie; Bonica, Danielle (11 December 2018). "Health expert warns residents are at risk from high sodium in water in drought-stricken NSW town of Walgett". ABC News. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b Woodfield, Craig (September 2000). "Traditional Aboriginal uses of the Barwon River wetlands" (PDF). Inland Rivers Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  7. ^ .
  8. Roads & Maritime Services
    . 15 August 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  9. Roads & Maritime Services
    . 8 February 1999. Retrieved 11 January 2013.

External links