Barwon River (New South Wales)
Barwon Upper Darling River Orana | |
---|---|
Towns | Mungindi, Collarenebri, Brewarrina, |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Macintyre River |
• location | north of Mungindi, Southern Downs, Queensland |
• elevation | 196 m (643 ft) |
2nd source | Weir River |
Orana region | |
• coordinates | 29°57′29″S 146°18′28″E / 29.95806°S 146.30778°E |
• elevation | 110 m (360 ft) |
Length | 700 km (430 mi) |
Basin features | |
River system | Murray–Darling basin |
Tributaries | |
• left | Gwydir River, Mehi River, Namoi River, Macquarie River, Bogan River |
• right | Boomi River, Moonie River, Bokhara River |
[3] |
Barwon River, a
The name "barwon" is derived from the
Course
The river is formed through the
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,
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
Aboriginal history
Aboriginal people from six language groups originally occupied the area of the Barwon River
Aboriginal people built a complex series of
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
- ^ a b c "Barwon River". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "Fab Facts, Landforms, Australian Rivers". Geoscience Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ "Map of Barwon River". Bonzle.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ ISBN 0-86438-399-1.
- Roads & Maritime Services. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- Roads & Maritime Services. 8 February 1999. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
External links
- "Macquarie-Bogan River catchment" (map). Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- "Barwon, Darling and Far Western catchments" (map). Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- "Border Rivers catchment" (map). Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- "Gwydir River catchment" (map). Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- Longitudinal profile of the Barwon River[permanent dead link]; sourced from Murray–Darling Basin Authority
- Barwon-Darling catchment at Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 19 December 2012.