| Timbarra | |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Victoria |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Timbarra River mouth in Victoria |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Victoria |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | South East Corner (IBRA), Victorian Alps, East Gippsland |
| Subdivision Type5: | Local government area |
| Subdivision Name5: | Shire of East Gippsland |
| Length: | 90km (60miles) |
| Source1: | Nunniong Plains, Great Dividing Range |
| Source1 Location: | below Blue Shirt Hill, Victorian Alps |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -37.1278°N 147.9964°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1260m (4,130feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the Tambo River |
| Mouth Location: | southeast of |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -37.5658°N 147.9703°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 88m (289feet) |
| River System: | Mitchell River catchment |
| Tributaries Right: | Back River (Victoria), Wilkinson Creek, Cutts Creek, Mount Elizabeth Creek |
| Custom Label: | National park |
| Extra: | [1] [2] |
The Timbarra River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.[3]
The Timbarra River rises on the Nunniong Plains, below Blue Shirt Hill, that is part of the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range; approximately east of . The river flows through the Nunniong Plain and the Mount Elizabeth scenic reserves; generally south, then east, then south, then south by east, then southwest, joined by the Back River and three minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Tambo River about southeast of in the Shire of East Gippsland.[4] [5] The river descends over its 90km (60miles) course;[2] much of which is through forested mountain areas and steep gorges, with a bed of gravel, boulders and mud and numerous pools.[6] Along its route it passes through the small settlement of Timbarra, about northwest of .
Together with the Nicholson, Tambo, and Mitchell rivers, and their respective drainage basins, including the Timbarra River, the rivers empty into the Gippsland Lakes and flow into Bass Strait.[2] [7]
The isolated Timbarra River Gorge, north of Timbarra, has been classified as a site of local significance by the Geological Society of Australia.[8]
The Timbarra River is in good environmental condition, and maintains a reliable year-round flow.[9]
Although access to the river is difficult, it remains popular for fishing, especially for the introduced brown trout which spawn naturally in the river without the need for artificial stocking. Native fish found in the river include the vulnerable Australian grayling, the river blackfish, tupong, and eels.
The Swifts Creek School has named one of its sports houses Timbara, after the river.[10]