The Coliban River, an inland perennial river of the north–central catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Coliban River rise on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and descend to flow north into the Campaspe River with the impounded Lake Eppalock.
| Coliban | |
|---|---|
 Trentham Falls, in the upper reaches of the Coliban River | |
| Native name |
|
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Region | Riverina bioregion (IBRA), Central Highlands |
| Local government areas | Moorabool, Hepburn, Mount Alexander, City of Greater Bendigo |
| Towns | Trentham, Malmsbury, Metcalfe, Redesdale, Mintaro |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Great Dividing Range |
| • location | below Little Hampton |
| • coordinates | 37°25′13″S 144°28′38″E / 37.42028°S 144.47722°E |
| • elevation | 701 m (2,300 ft) |
| Mouth | confluence with the Campaspe River |
• location | Lake Eppalock |
• coordinates | 36°55′39.5″S 144°32′49.8″E / 36.927639°S 144.547167°E |
• elevation | 183 m (600 ft) |
| Length | 89 km (55 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Echuca |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Victorian north–central catchment, Murray-Darling basin |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Kangaroo Creek, Myrtle Creek |
| • right | Little Coliban River |
| Waterfalls | Trentham Falls |
| [3] | |
The river is a major water supply source for towns and cities in the lower Central Highlands region.
Location and features
editThe river rises below Little Hampton near Lyonville in the Great Dividing Range and flows generally north, descending 33 metres (108 ft) over the Trentham Falls, and continuing to flow northward to the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs. Subsequently, it flows through Malmsbury, Metcalfe, Redesdale and Mintaro, and finally reaches its confluence with the Campaspe River within Lake Eppalock.[4] The river descends 518 metres (1,699 ft) over its 89-kilometre (55 mi) course.[3]
Gold was found in the river in 1858, and water from the river was used to supply the goldfields cities of Bendigo and Castlemaine. As the population of those cities grew a water supply system consisting of 70 kilometres (43 mi) of tunnels and aqueducts was constructed. Over time, the water supply was extended to Kyneton, as well as many other smaller towns in the region. Today, the system supplies drinking water to a population exceeding 200,000.[4] Coliban Water manages the three major water supply reservoirs, which are part of the Eppalock Proclaimed Water Supply Catchment.[5]
Fauna and flora
editThe river is home to the platypus as well as eight native fish species, including the Macquarie perch. Four of the fish species are endangered and the trout cod is regarded as critically endangered in the river, and may no longer be present. Indigenous vegetation in the area includes the black gum (Eucalyptus aggregata) which, though once plentiful in the area, is now rare due to vegetation clearance over many years.[4]
Etymology
editIn the Aboriginal Djadjawurrung language, the name for the river is Teeranyap, with no clearly defined meaning. In the Taungurung and Djadjawurrung languages, the names for the river is Pe-er, with no clearly defined meaning, and Dindelong yaluk, with yaluk meaning "river".[1][2][6]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Coliban River (entry 615046)". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ a b Clark, Ian; Heydon, Toby (2011). "Coliban River: Traditional Names". Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.
- ^ a b "Map of Coliban River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "Your River: The Coliban - River Recovery". Greening Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
- ^ "Coliban Water". Coliban Water. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
- ^ Orr-Young, Jillianne (2012). Place and Praxis: Valuing Australian Indigenous Place in Landscape Architecture Practice (PhD). RMIT University. p. 242.
External links
edit
- Public Record Office Victoria Photograph of Victorian Railways passenger train crossing the viaduct over the Coliban River at Malmsbury, November 1945.
- "Loddon–Campaspe". Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Australian Government. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014.
- "Campaspe River longitudinal profile" (PDF). Murray-Darling Basin Authority (PDF). Australian Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2014.
- "Campaspe". Our rivers. Environment Victoria.