| Laura | |
| Name Other: | Hearn |
| Name Etymology: | Laura, the wife of Archibald Campbell Macmillan |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Queensland |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Laura River river mouth in Queensland |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Queensland |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Far North Queensland, Cape York Peninsula |
| Subdivision Type5: | City |
| Subdivision Name5: | Laura |
| Length: | 126km (78miles) |
| Source1: | Great Dividing Range |
| Source1 Location: | below Mount Murray |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -15.9328°N 144.8542°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 234m (768feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the Normanby River |
| Mouth Location: | south of |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -15.2°N 144.4344°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 54m (177feet) |
| River System: | Normanby River |
| Tributaries Left: | Mosman River, Kennedy Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Ninda Creek, Deighton River |
| Custom Label: | National park |
| Custom Data: | Rinyirru National Park |
| Extra: | [1] |
The Laura River is a river in the Cape York Peninsula region of Far North Queensland, Australia.
The Laura River rises on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range below Mount Murray. The river flows generally northwest, shadowed by the Peninsular Development Road from nearby and then flows north through the town of and then the river forms the western border of the Rinyirru National Park, while the Peninsular Development Road continues north-west through to reach the top of the peninsula at . The river is joined by sixteen tributaries including the Deighton, Little Laura and Mosman rivers. The river reaches its confluence and empties into the Normanby River south of . The river descends over its 126km (78miles) course.[1] [2]
The river is crossed by the Mulligan Highway near Mount Gibson.
A railway bridge was built over this river, but because of a change in finances and plans it was never used, except for a test train.
The river was named as the Hearn River by William Hann on 19 October 1872, after his wife's family name. The name Laura was given by Archibald Macmillan, a road surveyor and explorer, after his wife, Laura Bower (nee Poingdestre).[3] [4]
. Jack, R. L. . Robert Logan Jack . Northmost Australia . George Robertson and Co . Melbourne . 1922 . 2 . 422 .