| King | |
| Name Native: | [1] |
| Name Etymology: | Philip Gidley King, 3rd Governor of NSW |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Victoria |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the King River mouth in Victoria |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Victoria |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Victorian Alps (IBRA), Victorian Alps, Hume |
| Subdivision Type4: | Local government areas |
| Subdivision Name4: | Mansfield Shire, Wangaratta |
| Subdivision Type5: | Town |
| Subdivision Name5: | , Wangaratta |
| Length: | 126km (78miles) |
| Source1: | Alpine National Park, Victorian Alps |
| Source1 Location: | below Mount Buggery |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -37.1503°N 146.6156°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1030m (3,380feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the Ovens River |
| Mouth Location: | Wangaratta |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -36.3544°N 146.3306°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 142m (466feet) |
| River System: | North-East Murray catchment, Murray-Darling basin |
| Tributaries Left: | Fork Creek, Tomahawk Creek, Evans Creek (King River, Victoria), Boggy Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Stony Creek (King River, Victoria), Black Range Creek, Meadow Creek (Victoria), Hurdle Creek |
| Custom Label: | National park |
| Custom Data: | Alpine National Park, Mount Buffalo National Park |
| Extra: | [2] [3] |
The King River, a perennial river[2] of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the Alpine and Hume regions of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northwestern slopes of the Alpine National Park in the Australian Alps, through the King Valley, and joining with the Ovens River at the rural city of Wangaratta.[3]
The King River rises below Mount Buggery, within Mansfield Shire, at an elevation exceeding above sea level. The river flows generally north by northwest, most of its course through remote parts of the Alpine and Mount Buffalo national parks, and then descending into the King Valley, joined by eight minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Ovens River at Wangaratta. The river descends over its 126km (78miles) course.[3]
The river is impounded by the William Hovell Dam to form Lake William Hovell, that provides water for approximately for irrigated crops, vineyards and grazing properties along the King River from Cheshunt to Wangaratta.[4] [5] A small 1.6MW hydro-electric generator is driven by the river's outflow from the dam, with an average annual output of .[5] [6]
The river was given its English name by Hamilton Hume and William Hovell, explorers of the region, in honour of Captain Philip Gidley King, the third Governor of New South Wales, in office from 1800 to 1806.[1]
In the Aboriginal Waywurru language, the river is named Poodumbeyer, with no defined meaning.[1]
Kayaking enthusiasts access the river for the many level 2 and level 3 rapids. In 2008 the site for the Victorian and Australian Downriver Championships.