Balonne River
Balonne | |
---|---|
Etymology | Mandandanji:water or running stream.[1] |
Location | |
Country | Australia |
State | Queensland |
Region | South West Queensland |
City | St George |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Condamine River |
• location | atSurat |
• elevation | 274 m (899 ft) |
Mouth |
|
• location | nearDirranbandi |
• coordinates | 28°43′27″S148°03′6″E/ 28.72417°S 148.05167°E |
• elevation | 171 m (561 ft) |
Length | 479 km (298 mi) |
Discharge | |
• average | 65 m3/s (2,300 cu ft/s) |
Basin features | |
River system | Darling River,Murray-Darling basin |
Tributaries | |
• right | Maranoa River |
Reservoir | Lake Kajarabie |
[2] |
TheBalonne River,part of theMurray-Darling Basinsystem, is a short yet significant part of the inlandrivergroup ofSouth West Queensland,Australia.
Course and features
[edit]The river is a continuation of theCondamine River.After flowing throughSuratthe river flows south south-westerly down through theE.J. Beardmore Dam(Lake Kajarabie).[2]Passing throughSt Georgeit continues in the same south-west direction, until about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north ofDirranbandi,where it branches, with the western branch then being called theCulgoa River.The eastern branch continues on as the Balonne River through Dirranbandi. Shortly after flowing through Dirranbandi, the Balonne River again branches into theBokhara Riveron the west side (the right side when going down stream) and theNarran Riveron the eastern (left) side.[3]The Narran River flows intoNarran Wetlands.TheBokhara Riverjoins with theBarwon Riverwest ofBrewarrina.The confluence of the Culgoa River (a western branch of the Balonne River) and the Barwon River (which includes a former central branch of the Balonne) forms the start of theDarling River.
The Balonne-Condaminecatchment areais 136,014 square kilometres (52,515 sq mi), of which an area of 603 square kilometres (233 sq mi) is composed of riverinewetlandsand 559 square kilometres (216 sq mi) isestuarinewetlands.[4]
The five longest tributaries of the Balonne River are the Condamine River, theMaranoa River,Dogwood Creek, Yuleba Creek and Tartulla Creek. At St George, the river is crossed by theAndrew Nixon Bridgewhich carries theBalonne Highway.[5]
Water storage
[edit]E.J. Beardmore Dam was formed by the construction of aweirin 1972 at the junction of the Maranoa and Balonne Rivers.[6]When the dam is full the water backs up for 70 kilometres (43 mi) along the Balonne. Downstream from Beardmore Dam is theJack Taylor Weir,which was built in 1953.[6]On the Balonne tributary, Dogwood Creek there is another weir, theGill Weir,which can hold 1,050 megalitres (230×10 6imp gal; 280×10 6US gal).
History
[edit]MajorThomas Mitchellcrossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846. Mitchell named the river after theMandandanjiword for water or running stream,balunorbalonnorbalonne.[1]
Gallery
[edit]-
E.J. Beardmore Damviewed from the downstream side.
-
Irrigation channel forcottonfed fromE.J. Beardmore Dam.
-
Jack Taylor Weir viewed from downstream side atSt George, Queensland.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"Balonne River River (entry 1434)".Queensland Place Names.Queensland Government.Retrieved23 June2015.
- ^ab"Map of Balonne River, QLD".Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.Retrieved31 January2009.
- ^"Chisholm, Alec H.".The Australian Encyclopaedia.Vol. 1. Sydney: Halstead Press. 1963. p. 406. Balonne River.
- ^"Balonne-Condamine drainage basin drainage basin".WetlandInfo.Queensland Government.Retrieved23 June2015.
- ^"Andrew Nixon Bridge".Balonne Shire Council. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2011.Retrieved8 February2011.
- ^abHarrison, Rod; Ernie James; Chris Sully; Bill Classon; Joy Eckermann (2008).Queensland Dams.Bayswater, Victoria:Australian Fishing Network. p. 155.ISBN978-1-86513-134-4.