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The Gascoyne River is a river in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. At 865 kilometres (537 mi), it is the longest river in Western Australia. [3]
The Gascoyne River comprises three branches in its upper reaches. Draining the Collier Range, the river rises as the Gascoyne River (North Branch) on Three Rivers Station near the Great Northern Highway, 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Peak Hill and flows for approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi). The Gascoyne River (Middle Branch) rises west of Beyondie Lakes, east of Kumarina and east of the Great Northern Highway and flows for approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). The Gascoyne River (South Branch) rises near the Doolgunna homestead and flows for approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi).
The Gascoyne flows generally west by south-west and is joined by 36 tributaries, including the Lyons River, Landor River, Thomas River, and numerous other creeks and gullies. The two main rivers, the Gascoyne and Lyons together provide a catchment area of 68,326 square kilometres (26,381 sq mi) that lies entirely to the east of the Kennedy Ranges and extends some 480 kilometres (298 mi) inland. The river reaches its mouth as it flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon . [4] The river descends 514 metres (1,686 ft) over its 865-kilometre (537 mi) course. [2]
It is said to be an "upside-down river", because it flows for about 120 days of the year and below the dry river bed for the remainder of the year. It is, in effect, a huge water storage system with the river aquifer lying below the desert sands.
The Gascoyne flows through sparsely vegetated countryside which is used mainly for gold mining, and sheep and cattle grazing. It includes many permanent pools that are valuable to both stock and native species. Some of the main pools located along the river include Tibbingoona Pool, Mutherbokin Pool and Mibbley Pool. [2]
The extensive catchment of the Gascoyne River means that it flows through the country of a number of Aboriginal peoples, the principal ones being the Baiyungu, Yinggarda, Thudgari, Malgana and Wajarri. [6]
The first Europeans to see the river, on 4 March 1839, were a party led by the explorer Lieutenant George Grey, who named the river after a friend, Captain John Gascoyne RN, [7] son of Bamber Gascoyne, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. Captain Gascoyne was a committee member of the London-based Western Australian Missionary Society and a member of the London Association for the Protection of the Interests of the Colony. [8]
From mid 1909 to early 1913, the area had three dry years, with the Gascoyne River not running for any of that time, and Carnarvon had water supply problems as a result. [9]
The most severe flooding of the Gascoyne River occurred in December 2010. [10] Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, amounting to over 6,000 percent of the monthly mean, 313.6 millimetres (12.35 in) and 5 millimetres (0.20 in) respectively, in just four days, the floods caused widespread damage in the region. The water reached record levels at three stations along the river, cresting at 15.53 metres (51 ft) near Fishy Pool.
Evacuation orders were issued for several towns affected by rising waters. The most substantial impact was felt in Carnarvon where entire homes were washed away. Following the disaster, emergency supplies and funds were distributed to affected residents to aid in restoring their livelihoods. Though no people died, an estimated two thousand head of cattle perished, and damage was estimated at A$100 million. [11] The size of the flood, and the region it affected, created widespread problems. [12]
In March 2015, Cyclone Olwyn affected the Gascoyne River and caused the most severe flooding since 2010. [13]
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres (560 mi) north of Perth, in Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef and the popular tourist town of Exmouth lie to the north. Mungullah Aboriginal Community was formerly in the town however it has moved east of the town.
The Warrego River is an intermittent river that is part of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, which is located in South West Queensland and in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Warrego River is the northernmost tributary of the Darling River.
The Gascoyne region is one of the nine administrative regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northwest of Western Australia, and consists of the local government areas of Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne. The Gascoyne has about 600 km (370 mi) of Indian Ocean coastline; extends inland about 500 km (310 mi); and has an area of 135,073.8 km2 (52,152.3 sq mi), including islands.
North West Coastal Highway is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the coastal city of Geraldton with the town of Port Hedland. The 1,300-kilometre-long (808 mi) road, constructed as a sealed two-lane single carriageway, travels through remote and largely arid landscapes. Carnarvon is the only large settlement on the highway, and is an oasis within the harsh surrounding environment. The entire highway is allocated National Route 1, part of Australia's Highway 1, and parts of the highway are included in tourist routes Batavia Coast Tourist Way and Cossack Tourist Way. Economically, North West Coastal Highway is an important link to the Mid West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions, supporting the agricultural, pastoral, fishing, and tourism industries, as well as mining and offshore oil and gas production.
The Murchison River is the second longest river in Western Australia. It flows for about 820 km (510 mi) from the southern edge of the Robinson Ranges to the Indian Ocean at Kalbarri. The Murchison-Yalgar-Hope river system is the longest river system in Western Australia. It has a mean annual flow of 208 gigalitres, although in 2006, the peak year on record since 1967, flow was 1,806 gigalitres.
The Shire of Upper Gascoyne is a local government area in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, inland from Carnarvon and about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire has an area of 57,939 square kilometres (22,370 sq mi), much of which is uninhabited land or sparsely vegetated sheep station country, and its seat of government is the small town of Gascoyne Junction. It has a population of 170, 56% of whom identify as Aboriginal.
Tropical Cyclone Steve was a tropical cyclone that affected northern Australia from 27 February 2000 until 11 March 2000. Cyclone Steve was noted for its longevity and traversal of northern and western Australia. It impacted on regions of northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia before clearing to the south of the continent. Steve is the first known Australian cyclone to make four distinct landfalls in the country.
Gascoyne Junction is a small town in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, inland from Carnarvon on the junction of the Gascoyne River and Lyons River. At the 2006 census, Gascoyne Junction had a population of 149.
The Lyons River is a river in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
The Belyando River, including the Belyando River (Western Branch), is a river system in Central Queensland, Australia. At 1,054 kilometres (655 mi) in length and with a catchment area of 35,000 square kilometres (14,000 sq mi), the Belyando River system is one of the longest rivers in Queensland.
Tropical Cyclone Emma was a weak but unusually large tropical cyclone that affected a substantial portion of Western Australia during the 2005–06 Australian region cyclone season. Forming out of an area of low pressure on 25 February, the precursor to Emma slowly tracked southward. Although classified tropical, the structure of the system represented that of a monsoonal storm. However, low wind shear and well-developed outflow gradually allowed convection to develop near the centre of circulation. As the system approached the Pilbara coastline of Western Australia on 27 February, it intensified into a Category 1 cyclone and attained peak 10-minute sustained winds of 75 km/h (47 mph). After moving inland near Mardie, Emma weakened to a tropical low but became exceedingly large; its cloud cover obscured most of Western Australia. The remnants of the weak storm persisted until 1 March, at which time they dissipated over the Great Australian Bight.
The Minilya River is a river in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
The 2010 Gascoyne River flood was regarded as the most severe flood to take place along the Gascoyne River in Western Australia on record. Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, amounting to over 6,000 percent of the monthly mean, 313.6 mm (12.35 in) and 5 mm (0.20 in) respectively, in just four days, the floods caused widespread damage in the region. By 17 December, the river began to rise in response to the heavy rains, eventually exceeding its banks within two days. Water levels reached record values at three stations along the river, cresting at 15.53 m (51.0 ft) near Fishy Pool. Evacuation orders were issued for several towns affected by rising waters. The most substantial impact was felt in Carnarvon where entire homes were washed away. Following the disaster, emergency supplies and funds were distributed to affected residents to aid them in restoring their livelihoods. Though no people died in the event, an estimated two thousand head of cattle perished and damage was estimated at A$100 million.
Sherlock Station is a pastoral lease and sheep station located approximately 54 kilometres (34 mi) East of Roebourne in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Covering an area of 216,700 acres (87,695 ha) pasture, the lease provides good grazing land. In 2015 it was purchased by Bettini Bros, now Bettini Beef, in a package with Mallina and Pyramid Stations. The Bettinis still owned the lease in 2018. Sherlock is operating under the Crown Lease number CL311-1966 and has the Land Act number LA3114/558.
Jimba Jimba Station, most often referred to as Jimba Jimba, is a pastoral lease currently operating as a cattle station in Western Australia, that once operated as a sheep station.
Brickhouse Station, formerly spelt Brick House Station, is a pastoral lease in Western Australia. It once operated as a sheep station but now operates as a cattle station, with some 90 ha turned over to mango cultivation.
Doorawarrah Station, commonly referred to as Doorawarrah, is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in Western Australia.
Callagiddy Station, commonly referred to as Callagiddy, is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The name Callagiddy is a Kimberly name picked up on a droving trip by the original owner Dansy Powell. It means, like many Aboriginal place names, "plenty water" and is pronounced with a hard G (J). Why the name Callagiddy was significant to Powell is unknown, however he named his seventh child, "Amy Callagiddy Powell". The original homestead on Callagiddy was located in the north-east section of the property known today as "Old Callagiddy". It was later relocated "lock, stock and barrel" to the centre of the property, when the lease was expanded in 1918, where it stands today. It is situated about 41 kilometres (25 mi) south east of Carnarvon, 109 kilometres (68 mi) north east of Denham and 26 kilometres (16 mi) east of Great Northern Highway. On the north and west boundary is Brick House Station, north-east boundary Meeragoolia station, eastern boundary Ella Valla Station and southern boundary Edagee Station. The Gascoyne River is 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of the northern boundary and the coast 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) west of the western boundary. The long term average rainfall is 214 mm and the median average is 194 mm.
Doolgunna or Doolgunna Station is a pastoral lease and sheep station located in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn was a strong tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage across the northwestern coast of Western Australia in March 2015. The twelfth tropical low, the sixth named storm and cyclone, and the fourth severe tropical cyclone; Olwyn formed from a weak tropical low over Western Australia on March 8. Olwyn rapidly intensified as it tracked south-southeast, reaching category 3 strength on March 11. The cyclone made landfall near Exmouth on March 13 as a category 3 cyclone, with winds of up to 185 km/h. Olwyn weakened slightly after landfall, but continued to track south-southeast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to coastal areas.