Campaspe River should not be confused with Campaspe River (Queensland).
| Campaspe | |
| Name Native: | [1] |
| Name Etymology: | Campaspe, a mistress of Alexander the Great. |
| Map: | Map of the Campaspe River.svg |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Victoria |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Riverina bioregion (IBRA), Central Highlands, Wimmera |
| Subdivision Type4: | Local government areas |
| Subdivision Name4: | Greater Bendigo City, Campaspe |
| Subdivision Type5: | Towns |
| Subdivision Name5: | ,,,, |
| Length: | 232km (144miles) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 7m3/s |
| Source1: | Great Dividing Range |
| Source1 Location: | Wombat State Forest near Bullengarook |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -37.4203°N 144.4772°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 679m (2,228feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the Murray River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -36.1181°N 144.7267°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 98m (322feet) |
| River System: | Murray-Darling basin |
| Basin Size: | 4179km2 |
| Tributaries Left: | Coliban River, Mosquito Creek (Campaspe River), Axe Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Pipers Creek (Campaspe River), Stone Jug Creek, Forest Creek (Campaspe River), Mount Pleasant Creek |
| Custom Label: | Nature reserve |
| Extra: | [2] [3] |
The Campaspe River, an inland intermittent river of the northcentral catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands and Wimmera regions of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Campaspe River rise on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and descend to flow north into the Murray River, Australia's longest river, near Echuca.
From its source in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range below Red Hill, the Campaspe River rises in the Wombat State Forest northwest of and southwest of near and Firth Park, a local camping ground and historical area. The river then flows west of the township of and continues north through the town of . The middle reaches of the river are dominated by Lake Eppalock, a constructed reservoir. The Coliban River, the most significant tributary of the Campaspe, also flows into Lake Eppalock. Towns located on the river in this area include located just south of Eppalock and, located just below Eppalock. The towns of and lie on the river's lower reaches. The river meets its confluence with the Murray River west of the town of Echuca, located adjacent to the state border between Victoria and New South Wales.[2] [3]
In addition to the Coliban River, the Campaspe River is joined by six minor tributaries and passes through the Campaspe Weir. The river descends over its 232km (144miles) course.[2] [3]
The river is crossed three times by the Calder Freeway near Kyneton, and by the McIvor Highway near Eppalock. The Midland Highway and Northern Highway duplex crosses the river at Elmore, and the Murray Valley Highway and Northern Highway duplex crosses the river at Echuca.
As the river is relatively long, Aboriginal peoples from various cultural groups lived near the river course. In the Yorta Yorta language, the name for the river is Yalka or Yalooka, meaning "dry leaf". In the Taungurung language the name for the river is Boregam, with no clearly defined meaning. In the Taungurung and Ngurai-illam Wurrung language, the river is named Yerrin, with no clearly defined meaning.[1] [4] [5]
It was named by Major Mitchell in 1836 for Campaspe, a mistress of Alexander the Great.[6]