| Meander | |
| Name Other: | The Western River |
| Map Size: | 280 |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Tasmania |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 280 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Meander River mouth in Tasmania |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Tasmania |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Central Highlands (Tasmania), Northern Tasmania |
| Subdivision Type5: | Settlements |
| Subdivision Name5: | Meander, Deloraine |
| Length: | 112km (70miles) |
| Source1: | Great Western Tiers |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1300m (4,300feet) |
| Mouth: | South Esk River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -41.5081°N 147.0533°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 129m (423feet) |
| River System: | South Esk River |
| Basin Size: | 1600km2 |
| Tributaries Right: | Western Creek, Quamby Brook, Liffey River |
| Custom Label: | Reservoirs |
| Custom Data: | Lake Huntsman |
| Extra: | [1] [2] |
The Meander River is a major perennial river located in the central northern region of Tasmania, Australia. Until the founding of Westbury in the early 1820s, the river was known as The Western River.[3]
The Meander River rises in the Great Western Tiers and flows past its namesake town, Meander, through the major regional town of Deloraine, then eastward, where it flows into the South Esk River near Hadspen. From source to mouth, the river is joined by fourteen tributaries including the Liffey River and descends over its 112km (70miles) course.[1]
The damming of the river in 2007 created the artificial reservoir Lake Huntsman. The Meander Hydro Dam provides both electricity and water to the region and is the second dam on the Meander River.
The Meander is a popular trout fishing stream holding brown trout.[4] The World Fly Fishing Championships organized by the International Confederation of Sport Fishing has selected the Meander as one of its venues for the 2019 championships to be held in Tasmania.[5]