| Moonie River | |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia New South Wales |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Moonie River mouth in New South Wales |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | States |
| Subdivision Name2: | Queensland, New South Wales |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Southern Downs, Orana |
| Length: | 542km (337miles) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 6m3/s |
| Source1: | Braemar State Forest, |
| Source1 Location: | near Tara, Queensland |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -27.3331°N 150.7256°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 347m (1,138feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the Barwon River |
| Mouth Location: | near Mogil Mogil, north of Collarenebri New South Wales |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -29.3128°N 148.7119°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 149m (489feet) |
| River System: | Barwon River catchment, Murray–Darling basin |
| Basin Size: | 14812km2 |
| Custom Label: | Reservoir |
| Custom Data: | Thallon Weir |
| Extra: | [1] |
The Moonie River (Mooni River) is a river in Shire of Balonne, Queensland and Walgett Shire, New South Wales, both in Australia.[2] It is a perennial river of the Barwon catchment within the Murray–Darling basin.
The river was named Mooni by explorer and surveyor Thomas Mitchell on 9 November 1846 but the origins of the name are unknown. In New South Wales, the river is officially known as Mooni River, but common usage uses the same spelling as in Queensland where most of the river is located. The sign erected by Walgett Shire Council at Gundablouie Bridge on Gundabloui Road also uses the common spelling Moonie River.
Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.[3]
The rivers rises south west of Dalby, near Braemar State Forest, south-east of Tara in Queensland, and flows generally to the south-west, joined by thirteen minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Barwon River, before Mogil Mogil farm, north of the village of Collarenebri, New South Wales; descending over its 542km (337miles) course.[1] The catchment area has no major towns and is extremely flat.[4] The Moonie River is impounded by Thallon Weir, with a capacity of .[4]
The river flows through the towns of the Nindigully, Flinton and just to the west of Thallon. Both the Moonie Highway and Carnarvon Highway cross the river. In New South Wales, only one public road crosses the river : Gundabloui Road crosses the river near Goondoobluie farm in Collarenbri, about 50 km north of the village.