Barwon River (New South Wales) Explained

Barwon
Name Other:Upper Darling River[1]
Name Etymology:Aboriginal: from barwum or bawon, meaning great, wide, awful river of muddy water
Map Size:250
Pushpin Map:Australia New South Wales
Pushpin Map Size:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Barwon River mouth in New South Wales
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Australia
Subdivision Type2:States
Subdivision Name2:Queensland, New South Wales
Subdivision Type3:Region
Subdivision Name3:South West Queensland, North West Slopes, Orana
Subdivision Type5:Towns
Subdivision Name5:Mungindi, Collarenebri, Brewarrina,
Length:700km (400miles)
Source1:Macintyre River
Source1 Location:north of Mungindi, Southern Downs, Queensland
Source1 Elevation:196m (643feet)
Source2:Weir River
Mouth:confluence with the Culgoa River to form the Darling River
Mouth Location:east of Bourke, Orana region
Mouth Coordinates:-29.9581°N 146.3078°W
Mouth Elevation:110m (360feet)
River System:Murray–Darling basin
Tributaries Left:Gwydir River, Mehi River, Namoi River, Macquarie River, Bogan River
Tributaries Right:Boomi River, Moonie River, Bokhara River
Extra:[2]

Barwon River, a perennial river that is part of the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the north-west slopes and Orana regions of New South Wales, Australia.

The name "barwon" is derived from the Australian Aboriginal words of barwum or bawon, meaning great, wide, awful river of muddy water; and also baawan, a Ngiyambaa name for both the Barwon and Darling rivers. The history, culture and livelihoods of the local Aboriginal people are closely intertwined with the Barwon River and its associated tributaries and downstream flows.[3]

Course

The river is formed through the confluence of the Macintyre River and Weir River (part of the Border Rivers system), north of Mungindi, in the Southern Downs region of Queensland. The Barwon River generally flows south and west, joined by 36 tributaries, including major inflows from the Boomi, Moonie, Gwydir, Mehi, Namoi, Macquarie, Bokhara and Bogan rivers. During major flooding, overflow from 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, Collarenebri, 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.[3]

In December 2018, amidst drought, the Barwon River at Walgett ceased flowing, reduced to a series of stagnant pools.[4]

History

Aboriginal history

Aboriginal people from six language groups originally occupied the area of the Barwon River wetlands. These were the Ngemba, the Baranbinja, the Murrawarri, the Yuwaalaraay, the Weilwan, and the Kamilaroi peoples. The Aboriginal people generally used the wetlands for hunting, fishing, and gathering uses, and for cultural association.[5]

Aboriginal people built a complex series of fish traps on the Barwon River at Brewarrina. These traps are a large, well-preserved example of this type of prehistoric site. The traps were built of rocks placed in the river bed to form a large number of V-shaped or diamond-shaped channels. The Brewarrina fish traps have now been listed on the Australian National Heritage List owing to the rarity of these works. They are of importance to modern Aboriginal people and are still in use.[5] There are rocky rapids above and below Collarenebri as well as weirs and other structures for irrigation which impede normal navigation of the river.

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.[6]

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 Bridge, which was built in 1888 over the Barwon River on the Kamilaroi Highway, has also been assessed as being of state significance.[7] 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.[8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fab Facts, Landforms, Australian Rivers . Geoscience Australia . 22 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080729062144/http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/landforms/longrive.htm . 29 July 2008 . dead .
  2. Web site: Map of Barwon River . Bonzle.com . 11 January 2013.
  3. Web site: Barwon–Darling . Explore the Basin: How the river runs . . 2008 . 11 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113210601/http://www.mdba.gov.au/explore-the-basin/how-river-runs/barwon-darling-catchment . 13 November 2012 .
  4. News: Carbonell . Rachel . Davies . Jessie . Bonica . Danielle . Health expert warns residents are at risk from high sodium in water in drought-stricken NSW town of Walgett . 18 December 2018 . ABC News. 11 December 2018.
  5. Web site: Traditional Aboriginal uses of the Barwon River wetlands . Inland Rivers Network . Woodfield, Craig . September 2000 . 11 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091025184034/http://www.irnnsw.org.au/pdf/IRN_Barwon_Wetlands_report.pdf . 25 October 2009 .
  6. Book: Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Australian Places. 1993. Reader's Digest. Sydney, NSW. 0-86438-399-1. 187.
  7. Web site: Brewarrina Bridge over Barwon River, The . Heritage and conservation register . . 15 August 2005 . 11 January 2013.
  8. Web site: Boonanga Bridge over Barwon River . Heritage and conservation register . . 8 February 1999 . 11 January 2013.