Susan River (Queensland) Explained

Susan
Pushpin Map:Australia Queensland
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Susan River mouth in Queensland
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Australia
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Queensland
Subdivision Type3:Region
Subdivision Name3:Wide Bay–Burnett
Subdivision Type5:Local government area
Subdivision Name5:Fraser Coast
Length:20km (10miles)
Source1 Location:south of Hervey Bay
Source1 Coordinates:-25.4158°N 152.7506°W
Source1 Elevation:14m (46feet)
Mouth:confluence with the Mary River
Mouth Location:River Heads
Mouth Coordinates:-25.4292°N 152.9183°W
Mouth Elevation:279m (915feet)
River System:Mary River
Tributaries Right:Bunya Creek
Custom Label:Islands
Custom Data:Kangaroo Island; Susan Island
Extra:[1]

The Susan River is a river in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia.

Course and features

The river rises south of the town of Hervey Bay and west of the Maryborough Hervey Bay Road between the towns of Susan River and Walliebum. The river flows generally in an east by south direction, joined by the Bunya Creek, before reaching its confluence and emptying into the Mary River at River Heads in the Great Sandy Strait.

Along the banks of the Susan River is one of the largest remaining Blue Gum forests within the Mary River catchment area, together with melaleuca forests. At the river mouth, mangrove forests dominate the intertidal areas.[2]

The Susan River Bridge carries the road that links Maryborough and Hervey Bay and was built in 1977. The bridged carries more than 10,000 vehicles each day. It remained unnamed until 2009.[3]

In 2007, an unusual angler fish was found by a local fisherman. The fish was the first of its kind to have its genetic data recorded in an international fish catalog called the Fish Barcode of Life (FISH-BOL) using DNA barcoding.[4]

Large saltwater crocodiles are occasionally seen the river and surrounding area, as well as dugongs, dolphins and sea turtles.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Map of Susan River, QLD. 14 November 2015. Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
  2. Web site: Mary River Catchment Resource Atlas . 15 November 2015 . 2000 . Department of Natural Resources . . 12 . 0-7345-1699-1 . Pointon, S. M. . Collins, A. W. .
  3. Q150 celebrations - Susan River bridge naming . 19 May 2009 . 8 April 2009 . Department of the Premier and Cabinet .
  4. News: International project to record rare fish DNA . 19 May 2009 . 27 November 2007 . . Australia .