Gascoyne River

Gascoyne
River
The Gascoyne riverbed near Carnarvon
Name origin: Captain John Gascoyne RN, son of Bamber Gascoyne
Country Australia
State Western Australia
Region Gascoyne
Tributaries
 - left Landor River, Thirty One River, Lyons River
 - right Thomas River
City Carnarvon
Primary source Collier Range
 - location Three Rivers Station
 - elevation 514 m (1,686 ft)
 - coordinates 24°39′8″S 119°44′58″E / 24.65222°S 119.74944°E / -24.65222; 119.74944
Secondary source Gascoyne River (Middle)
 - location west of Beyondie Lakes
 - coordinates 25°20′42″S 119°38′53″E / 25.34500°S 119.64806°E / -25.34500; 119.64806
Additional source Gascoyne River (South)
 - location near the Doolgunna homestead
 - coordinates 25°41′45″S 119°13′17″E / 25.69583°S 119.22139°E / -25.69583; 119.22139
Source confluence Gascoyne River (North)
 - coordinates 25°18′29″S 119°6′42″E / 25.30806°S 119.11167°E / -25.30806; 119.11167
Mouth Indian Ocean
 - location Shark Bay
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
 - coordinates 24°52′14″S 113°36′57″E / 24.87056°S 113.61583°E / -24.87056; 113.61583Coordinates: 24°52′14″S 113°36′57″E / 24.87056°S 113.61583°E / -24.87056; 113.61583
Length 865 km (537 mi)
Basin 76,254 km2 (29,442 sq mi)
Natural pools Tibingoona Pool; Bibbingoona Pool; Nungamarra Pool; Mibbley Pool; Mutherbukin Pool; Beelu Pool; Bilyarra Pool; Piddendoora Pool; and Gnardune Pool
Wikimedia Commons: Gascoyne River
[1][2][3][4][5]

The Gascoyne River is a river in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. At 865 kilometres (537 mi), it is the longest river in Western Australia.[3]


The Gascoyne River comprises three branches in its upper reaches. Draining the Collier Range, the river rises as the Gascoyne River (North Branch) on Three Rivers Station near the Great Northern Highway, 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Peak Hill and flows for approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi). The Gascoyne River (Middle Branch) rises west of Beyondie Lakes, east of Kumarina and east of the Great Northern Highway and flows for approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). The Gascoyne River (South Branch) rises near the Doolgunna homestead and flows for approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). The Gascoyne flows generally west by southwest and is joined by 36 tributaries including the Lyons River, Landor River, Thomas River, and numerous other creeks and gullies. The two main rivers, the Gascoyne and Lyons together provide a catchment area of 68,326 square kilometres (26,381 sq mi) that lies entirely to the east of the Kennedy Ranges and extends some 480 kilometres (298 mi) inland. The river reaches its mouth as it flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon.[4] The river descends 514 metres (1,686 ft) over its 865-kilometre (537 mi) course.[2]

It is said to be an upside-down river, as it flows for about 120 days of the year and below the dry river bed for the remainder of the year. It is in effect a huge water storage system with the river's aquifers lying below the desert sands.

It flows through sparsely vegetated countryside which is used mainly for gold-mining and sheep stations. The river flows through many permanent pools that are valuable to both stock and native species. Some of the main pools located along the river include Tibbingoona Pool, Mutherbokin Pool and Mibbley Pool.[2]

History

The river was discovered by Europeans on 4 March 1839 by the explorer Lieutenant George Grey, who named it after a friend, Captain John Gascoyne RN,[6] son of Bamber Gascoyne, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. Captain Gascoyne was a committee member of the London-based Western Australian Missionary Society and a member of the London Association for the Protection of the Interests of the Colony.[7]

The area had three dry years from mid 1909 to early 1913 with the Gascoyne River not running for any of that time. Carnarvon had water supply issues as a result of the lack of flow.[8]

Floods

The most severe flooding of the Gascoyne River occurred in December 2010.[9] Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, amounting to over 6,000 percent of the monthly mean, 313.6 millimetres (12.35 in) and 5 millimetres (0.20 in) respectively, in just four days, the floods caused widespread damage in the region. Water levels reached record values at three stations along the river, cresting at 15.53 metres (51.0 ft) near Fishy Pool. Evacuation orders were issued for several towns affected by rising waters. The most substantial impact was felt in Carnarvon where entire homes were washed away. Following the disaster, emergency supplies and funds were distributed to affected residents to aid them in restoring their livelihoods. Though no people died in the event, an estimated two thousand head of cattle perished and damage was estimated at A$100 million.[10] The size of the flood, and the region it affected has also created serious issues for the region.[11]

In March 2015 Cyclone Olwyn affected the Gascoyne River and caused flooding, the most severe since the 2010 flood.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of river names". Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Map of Gascoyne River, WA". Bonzle Digital Atlas. 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Interesting facts about Western Australia". Landgate. Western Australian Land Information Authority. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Historical town name: Gascoyne Junction". Landgate. Western Australian Land Information Authority. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Tille, Peter (December 2006). "Soil-landscapes of Western Australia's Rangelands and Arid Interior" (PDF). Resource Management Technical Report (313): 13. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Grey, George (1841). Journals of two expeditions of discovery in North-West and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, describing many newly discovered, important, and fertile districts, with observations on the moral and physical condition of the aboriginal inhabitants, etc. etc. 1. London: T. and W. Boone. p. 349. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  7. ↑ "From a private correspondent". The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. 2 July 1836. pp. 720–721. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "River past Doorawarrah". Northern Times. Carnarvon, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 1 February 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Macqueen, Cristy-Lee (4 February 2011). "Survival, recovery and Aussie spirit-Gascoyne locals share their stories". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "Massive damage from worst ever floods". ABC News. Australia. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "Government warned about flood potential". ABC News. Australia. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Health fears as Carnarvon counts the cost of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn". Perth Now. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
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