North Esk River

Last updated

North Esk
North esk river launceston.JPG
North Esk River from Victoria Bridge in Launceston
North Esk River.png
Course of the North Esk River.
Native namelakekeller; mangana [1] [2]
Location
Country Australia
State Tasmania
RegionNorthern Tasmania
Physical characteristics
Source Ben Nevis
  locationNorthallerton Valley
  elevation547 m (1,795 ft)
Mouth South Esk River
  location
Launceston
  coordinates
41°43′16″S147°13′06″E / 41.72111°S 147.21833°E / -41.72111; 147.21833 Coordinates: 41°43′16″S147°13′06″E / 41.72111°S 147.21833°E / -41.72111; 147.21833
  elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length86 km (53 mi)
Basin features
River system South Esk River
Tributaries 
  left Ford River
  rightSt Patricks River
[3]

The North Esk River is a major perennial river located in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia.

Contents

Location and features

It is one of the tributaries of the Tamar River together with the South Esk River. It starts in the Northallerton Valley below Ben Nevis in the states North East, joining with the St Patricks River before flowing through Launceston. Launceston's Old Seaport tourist feature is located on the North Esk River. The river becomes tidal downstream of Hoblers Bridge to where it meets the Tamar. It is sometimes subject to flooding, especially in East Launceston suburbs.

The largest tributary of the North Esk is the St Patricks River, with others including the Ford River which flows from the skifields of Ben Lomond and down stream of the Corra Linn Gorge, the Roses Rivulet and Distillery Creek.

History

Indigenous history

The North Esk River forms part of the traditional lands of the Tasmanian Aborigines. The upper reaches of the river, and its watershed, is country belonging to the Ben Lomond Nation and the lower reaches, near Launceston is the country of the Leterremairrener clan of the North Midlands Nation. [4] The Tasmanian Aboriginal names for the North Esk River were lakekeller (with the suffix kila meaning deep) and mangana, which simply means river. [1] [2] An unnamed Colonial explorer in 1831 described the land up the North Esk River as open country but surrounded by densely wooded hills. [5] The open country had been used by colonials early in Launceston's history as a source of kangaroo meat for the nascent colony and was known as 'Bullock's Hunting Ground'. It is likely that this country had been kept open by Aboriginal firestick farming techniques prior to settlement and was the traditional hunting ground of either the Letterremairrener or a clan of the Ben Lomond Nation.

Paterson's Plains, in what is now St Leonards to Relbia, was described as a meeting place of Indigenous people [6] but whether this was because traditional country in Launceston was occupied is not known.

European history

The North Esk river area has a forgotten history inside Launceston's cultural memory. The East and West banks were once swarming with Bushrangers and Aboriginal tribes which would continuously attack the settlers of this area. [7] During the Black War, Aboriginal clansmen harassed settlers on the east banks of the Tamar and North Esk rivers, where farms adjoined the forested valley heights, stealing food, goods and killing up to 20 people in this vicinity. [7]

Further up the river, just beyond the first substantial bend known to some then as 'Vermont' bend, there used to be a Punt which was active before Hobler's Bridge was built at what is now St. Leonards in 1829 by George Hobler of 'Killafaddy' (1823). The area of North Esk was once an Electoral district. Many notable Tasmanian gentlemen farmers have lived on the North Esk throughout time. Some properties of historical interest still stand on the banks of the river such as 'Braemar' (1821) and 'Vermont' (1819) just outside Launceston. Convicts were used up until the early 1850s to drain the river flats after it was cultivated so it would not deteriorate back into a swamp after flooding. The river was also the main port facility for Launceston until the construction of the Charles Street Bridge.

On the south bank between the Seaport and Victoria Bridge (southern end of Invermay Road) were numerous wharves dating right back to settlement. These wharves were used by the flour mills, breweries, woolsheds and the Mt Mischoff Tin Smelters. Opposite, on the north bank, were more wharves accessible via Lindsay Street that used to support a rail mounted Gantry Crane which was used to directly load and unload railcars. Upstream were yet more smaller wharves with one of the furthest upstream being the Dynamite Wharf for the magazine reserve and shooting range. Located on Launceston's Glebe Flats, these isolated buildings include an explosives bunker (1850s/1890s) detonator sheds (1850s), a powder magazine and 2 identical ordnance sheds (1914). These buildings are located as a compound and served the military right through to the Second World War. The site is now located on agricultural land and belongs to 49 Boland Street. All the buildings are heritage listed but are yet to be used for any tourist ventures.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Tasmanians</span> Indigenous people of the Australian island state of Tasmania

The Aboriginal Tasmanians are the Aboriginal people of the Australian island of Tasmania, located south of the mainland. For much of the 20th century, the Tasmanian Aboriginal people were widely, and erroneously, thought of as being an extinct cultural and ethnic group that had been intentionally exterminated by white settlers. Contemporary figures (2016) for the number of people of Tasmanian Aboriginal descent vary according to the criteria used to determine this identity, ranging from 6,000 to over 23,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launceston, Tasmania</span> City in Tasmania, Australia

Launceston is a city in the north of Tasmania, Australia, at the confluence of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River (kanamaluka). Launceston has a population of 87,645 (2021). Launceston is the second most populous city in Tasmania after the state capital, Hobart, As of 2020, Launceston is the 18th largest city in Australia. Launceston is fourth-largest inland city and the ninth-largest non-capital city in Australia. Launceston is the most liveable regional city, and was one of the most popular regional cities to move to in Australia from 2020 to 2021. Launceston won the Australian town of the year in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamar River</span> River in Tasmania, Australia

The Tamar River, officially kanamaluka / River Tamar, is a 70-kilometre (43-mile) estuary located in northern Tasmania, Australia. Despite being called a river, the waterway is a brackish and tidal estuary over its entire length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Town, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

George Town is a large town in north-east Tasmania, on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Tamar River. The Australian Bureau of Statistics records the George Town Municipal Area had a population of 6,764 as of 30 June 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Lomond (Tasmania)</span> Mountain in the north of Tasmania

Ben Lomond is a mountain in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deddington, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Deddington is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Northern Midlands in the Central LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 34 kilometres (21 mi) east of the town of Longford. The 2016 census has a population of 121 for the state suburb of Deddington. The town is situated on the Nile River and lies in the foothills of Ben Lomond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Esk River</span> River in Tasmania, Australia

The South Esk River, the longest river in Tasmania, is a major perennial river located in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evandale, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Evandale is an historic town in northern Tasmania, Australia. It sits on the banks of the South Esk River, 18 km south of Launceston. Named after early colonial explorer and Surveyor-General George Evans, the town is famous for its late-Georgian and early-Victorian buildings with relatively untouched streetscape, a popular Sunday market and as a host to the annual World Penny Farthing bicycle Championships. At the 2016 census, Evandale had a population of 1,345.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevallyn Power Station</span> Dam in Northern Midlands Tasmania

The Trevallyn Power Station is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station located in the northern Midlands region of Tasmania, Australia. The power station is situated on the Great Lake and South Esk catchment and is owned and operated by Hydro Tasmania.

Invermay is a residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of Launceston in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of the town of Launceston. The 2021 census recorded a population of 3,498 for the state suburb of Invermay. It is a suburb of Launceston, which contains the minor suburb of Inveresk, it is located on the eastern side of the Tamar River and the northern side of the North Esk River, the suburb is most notable as being home to York Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Ross is a village in the Midlands of the state of Tasmania in Australia. On the Macquarie River, Ross is located 78 km south of Launceston and 117 km north of Hobart. The town is listed on the Register of the National Estate and is noted for its historic bridge, original sandstone buildings and convict history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campbell Town, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Campbell Town is a town in Tasmania, Australia, on the Midland Highway. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 772.

Newstead is a residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of Launceston in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of the town of Launceston. The 2016 census recorded a population of 5366 for the state suburb of Newstead. It is an inner suburb of the city of Launceston, located approximately 3 kilometres east of the central business district. Schools in the area include Newstead College, Scotch Oakburn junior school, Newstead Christian School and the Launceston Preparatory School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Arthur (Tasmania)</span> Mountain in Tasmania, Australia

Mount Arthur is a mountain in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia. With an elevation of 1,188 metres (3,898 ft) above sea level, the mountain is located north-east of Launceston, near the town of Lilydale.

The Macquarie River is a major perennial river located in the Midlands region of Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacks Bluff</span>

The Stacks Bluff is a peak in northeast Tasmania, Australia. The mountain is situated on the Ben Lomond plateau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Barrow</span> Mountain in Tasmania, Australia

Mount Barrow is a mountain in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia. With an elevation of 1,406 metres (4,613 ft) above sea level, the mountain is located 22 kilometres (14 mi) east-north-east of Launceston. The mountain habitat is a mixture of temperate old growth rainforest, subalpine and alpine landscapes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth River (Tasmania)</span> River in Tasmania, Australia

The Elizabeth River is a minor perennial river located in the Somerset Land District, in the Midlands region of Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conara, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Conara is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Northern Midlands in the Central LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south-east of the town of Longford. The 2016 census recorded a population of 130 for the state suburb of Conara.

Rosevears is a locality and small rural community in the local government area of West Tamar, in the Western Tamar Valley region of Tasmania. It is located about 22 kilometres (14 mi) north-west of the town of Launceston. The Tamar River forms the eastern and north-eastern boundaries. The 2016 census determined a population of 352 for the state suburb of Rosevears.

References

  1. 1 2 Plomley, Brian (1992). Tasmanian Aboriginal Place Names. Hobart: QVMAG. p. 17.
  2. 1 2 Taylor, John (1996). "Dictionary of Palawa place names". State Library of Tasmania/Riuwanna - UTAS: 51.
  3. "Map of North Esk River, TAS". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  4. Ryan, Lyndall (2012). asmanian Aborigines : a history since 1803 (2 ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   978-1742370682.
  5. Anonymous (11 April 1831). [Trove.nla.gov.au "The Independent"]. The Independent (Launceston, Tas).{{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. West, John (1857). The History of Tasmania.
  7. 1 2 [Trove.nla.gov.au "Launceston Advertiser"]. 20 December 1830.{{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)