| Big | |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Victoria |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Big River mouth in Victoria |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Victoria |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Victorian Alps (IBRA), East Gippsland |
| Subdivision Type5: | Local government area |
| Subdivision Name5: | East Gippsland Shire |
| Length: | 52km (32miles) |
| Source1: | Spion Kopje, Victorian Alps |
| Source1 Location: | near |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -36.8167°N 166°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1850m (6,070feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the Cobungra River to form the Mitta Mitta River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -36.9897°N 147.5111°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 645m (2,116feet) |
| River System: | North-East Murray catchment, Murray-Darling basin |
| Tributaries Left: | Glen Wills Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Hollonds Creek, Middle Creek (Victoria), Bundara River |
| Custom Label: | National park |
| Custom Data: | Alpine National Park |
| Extra: | [1] |
The Big River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the East Gippsland and Alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northern slopes of Falls Creek in the Australian Alps, joining with the Cobungra River near Anglers Rest to form the Mitta Mitta River.[2]
The Big River rises below the ski resort at Falls Creek in the Alpine National Park, on the northern slopes of Spion Kopje at an elevation of 1837m (6,027feet) above sea level. The river flows north off Spion Kopje, then east in the valley between Spion Kopje and Victoria's highest peak, Mount Bogong, separating Mount Bogong itself from the Bogong High Plains. The river then flows south-southeast, forming the eastern edge of the national park, before turning southward near the Omeo Highway crossing around Glen Valley, north of Anglers Rest.
The Omeo Highway then closely follows the course of the Big River until the point where the Bundara River enters it, about north of Anglers Rest. Shortly downstream from this, near Anglers Rest, the Big River forms its confluence with the Cobungra River, with the two rivers becoming the Mitta Mitta River, itself a tributary of the Murray River. The river descends over its 52km (32miles) course.[1]
Key tributaries of the Big River include Cairn Creek, Beckraith Creek, Camp Creek, Hollonds Creek, Dead Horse Creek, Middle Creek, Glen Wills Creek, Wallaby Creek, Burnside Creek, and the Bundara River. The main tributaries flow off the northern slopes of Spion Kopje, the southern slopes of Mount Bogong, the north, east, and west slopes of Mount Nelse and Mount Nelse North, the eastern slopes of Mount Cope, and the western slopes of Mount Wills and The Knocker.
Most of the waterways in the Mitta Mitta sub-catchment basin are recognised as being in good to excellent condition. Extensive forest covers much of the catchment area. Despite some land clearing and livestock damage to river banks, the aquatic habitat is generally very good.[3] The upper Big River above the Glen Valley is classified as a "Representative River of East Victorian dissected uplands".
In early 2003, large areas of forest around the Big River and its catchments were severely impacted by the Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires. These fires burnt through approximately of the area's bushland for close to two months.[4] [5] The damage resulting from the fires impacted river health for some time after the fires.