Duck River (New South Wales)
Duck River | |
---|---|
Birrong/Sefton | |
• coordinates | 33°52′42″S 151°0′47″E / 33.87833°S 151.01306°E |
2nd source | A'Becketts Creek |
• location | Rosehill |
• coordinates | 33°49′46.98″S 151°1′21.93″E / 33.8297167°S 151.0227583°E |
Silverwater | |
• coordinates | 33°49′28.87″S 151°2′56.35″E / 33.8246861°S 151.0489861°E |
Length | 11.5 km (7.1 mi) |
Basin features | |
River system | Parramatta River catchment |
Tributaries | |
• left | A'Becketts Creek, Duck Creek |
The Duck River is a perennial stream[1] and southern tributary of the Parramatta River, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
History
The
On 22 April 1788 Governor
In the early 1800s John Macarthur extended his land grants and his Elizabeth Farm holdings to gain the complete river frontage between the township of Parramatta and Duck River.[4]
Early surveys and maps suggest the Duck River area downstream from the
In 1882, Hudson Brothers, renamed in 1898 Clyde Engineering was built nearby to the river. In 1908 the Fells Oil Refinery, and in 1928 the Clyde Refinery was built on left hand bank where Duck River joins the Parramatta River.[5]
Geography
The Duck River flows in a generally north then east-north-east direction for about 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) from where it rises from a drain in the suburb of
The Wetlands are of regional conservation significance, providing home to three Endangered Ecological Communities and several threatened species, and are highly valued by the local community.
The Duck River Catchment commences in the
Downstream, A'Becketts Creek flows into Duck River at
Wategora Reserve
Wategora Reserve is named after the Wategora tribe, also translated as Wadi(g)ora, who inhabited the local area along Duck River. The Wategora were also known as the Duck River Tribe who lived around and above the tidal limit.
A remnant of the Cumberland Plain Woodland, the 11 hectare area canopy consists of eucalyptus woodland, dominated by grey box and broad-leaved ironbark. Three species of tea trees (Melaleuca) are also common. However, other unusual plants known from wetter areas include turpentine, cheese tree, red mahogany and coffee bush. Grey gum grow near an outcrop of Minchinbury Sandstone. Wildflowers are common in late winter, and small orchids may be observed. Being surrounded by suburbia, the reserve is affected by weeds. Bush regeneration programs are in place.
Native wildlife includes possums, many species of birds, and reptiles such as the water skink and red-bellied black snake. Budgerigars and brush turkeys have been recorded in the reserve.
See also
- Duck Creek, a tributary of A'Becketts Creek
- List of rivers in Australia
- List of rivers in New South Wales (A-K)
- Rivers of New South Wales
References
- ^ "Duck River". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ Kohen, James (1993). The Darug and Their Neighbours. Sydney: Darug Link and the Blacktown Historical Society. pp. 21–22.
- ^ a b "Plants - Duck River". Duck River Sydney Biodiversity. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ISSN 1835-0151. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Rural Industry 1790s - 1850s". Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ^ "Parramatta River Estuary: Data Compilation and Review Study" (PDF). Parramatta River Estuary Management Committee. July 2008. p. 13. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ Wales, Geographical Name Board of New South. "Extract - Geographical Names Board of NSW". gnb.nsw.gov.au.
External links
- "Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River catchment" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- Guide to Sydney Rivers site