Tamar River

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kanamaluka / River Tamar
Tamar river.JPG
kanamaluka / River Tamar from Brady's lookout, near Exeter
Tamar.png
Course of kanamaluka / River Tamar
Etymology River Tamar
Native namekanamaluka
Location
Country Australia
Region Tasmania, Northern Tasmania
City Launceston
Physical characteristics
Source confluence South and North Esk Rivers
 • location Launceston
 • coordinates 41°26′4″S147°7′38″E / 41.43444°S 147.12722°E / -41.43444; 147.12722
Mouth Port Dalrymple, Bass Strait
 • location
 Low Head
 • coordinates
 41°3′19″S146°46′28″E / 41.05528°S 146.77444°E / -41.05528; 146.77444
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length70 km (43 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • left Supply River
State reserve Tamar Conservation Area
[1]

The Tamar River, officially kanamaluka / River Tamar, [2] 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.

Contents

Location and features

Formed by the confluence of the North Esk and South Esk rivers at Launceston, kanamaluka / River Tamar flows generally north towards its mouth at Low Head, north of the settlement George Town [3] and into the Bass Strait via Port Dalrymple. kanamaluka / River Tamar has several minor tributaries including the Supply River. [1]

Low Head Lighthouse is located at the tip of a peninsula, on the east side of the mouth of the river. The only full crossing of the river is the Batman Bridge in the relatively remote area of Sidmouth, around halfway up the river.

The Tamar river is complicated in that it silts up frequently, a contributing factor to its slow decline in use. Over time dredging operations have been required. A scheme enacted between the 1920s and 1970s planned to partially dam the river and slow the flow around the western side of Tamar Island and speed up the flow around the eastern side (the main channel), by sinking 14 boats to disrupt water flow. [4] The success or not of this scheme is debated.

Although the Port of Launceston is now used very little in comparison to the past [5] and the SeaCat Tasmania ferry no longer docks at George Town, [6] the river still is used for shipping, with light and heavy industries at George Town including aluminium smelters as well as commercial boat cruises. [7]

Etymology

The Tamar River was named after the River Tamar in South West England by Colonel William Paterson in December 1804. [8]

Fishing

The last 10 kilometres of the Tamar river estuary are smooth and sheltered waters (observe tides and weather). The Clarence Point boat ramp has good picnic amenities, toilets, and a pontoon on the western side. The more wind exposed basic boat ramp at Kelso is a few kilometres further north.

George Town, a significant port town, is on the eastern side and has lots of amenities close by. The Low head basic boat ramp is also on the eastern side, just past pilot bay, a few kilometres further north.

Tamar King George Whiting 55cm.jpg

See also

Related Research Articles

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

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<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">Low Head</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Low Head is a rural residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the town of George Town. The 2016 census recorded a population of 572 for the state suburb of Low Head. It is a suburb of George Town, on a peninsula at the mouth of the Tamar River.

Newnham is a residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of Launceston in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the town of Launceston. The 2016 census recorded a population of 6453 for the state suburb of Newnham. It is a suburb of Launceston. Newnham is located on the East Tamar Highway, on the eastern side of the Tamar River.

<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">North Esk River</span> River in northern Tasmania, Australia

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

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

Bellingham is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 39 kilometres (24 mi) north-east of the town of George Town. The 2016 census has a population of 60 for the state suburb of Bellingham. It is a tiny coastal hamlet in northern Tasmania, situated on the mouth of the Pipers River directly opposite the town of Weymouth. The town is located 62 kilometres (39 mi) from Launceston, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Bridport and 38 kilometres (24 mi) from George Town.

The Tamar Valley is a valley in lutruwita Tasmania, Australia. It runs north-west from the northern city of Launceston to the coast either side of the Tamar River, a distance of approximately 70 km.

Blackwall is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of West Tamar in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania, Australia. The locality is about 21 kilometres (13 mi) south-east of the town of Beaconsfield. The 2016 census has a population of 270 for the state suburb of Blackwall. It is a small town located near Gravelly Beach on the western side of the Tamar River, north of Launceston.

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevallyn, Tasmania</span> Suburb of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Trevallyn is a residential locality in the local government areas (LGAs) of Launceston (25%) and West Tamar (75%) in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the city of Launceston. The 2016 census recorded a population of 4562 for the state suburb of Trevallyn. It is a suburb of Launceston.

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.

The Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a 285 nautical mile race, commencing at Beauty Point on the Tamar River, with competitors sailing out of the Tamar River, east along the northern coast of Tasmania, through Banks Strait and south down Tasmania's East Coast, through Mercury Passage between mainland Tasmania and Maria Island, across Storm Bay, to a finish line in the Derwent River. The race departs on 27 December each year. The race is known as the L2H race despite the race commencing at Beauty Point, some 45 kilometers north of Launceston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside, Tasmania</span> Suburb of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Riverside is a rural and urban locality in the local government areas of Meander Valley and West Tamar in the Launceston region of Tasmania, Australia. The locality is about 39 kilometres (24 mi) south-east of the town of Beaconsfield. The 2016 census has a population of 6472 for the state suburb of Riverside. It is a residential suburb 5 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-west of the central business district of Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city. The West Tamar Highway runs through the suburb, adjoining Riverside to the West Tamar, which includes small towns such as Beaconsfield, and Beauty Point. Riverside is part of the West Tamar Council local government area. The suburb is now Launceston's largest by population, narrowly ahead of Kings Meadows. The main shopping centre opened in the 1960s and includes: a Woolworths supermarket, a bakery, a pharmacist and some local businesses.

Beechford is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 22 kilometres (14 mi) north-east of the town of George Town. The 2016 census has a population of 90 for the state suburb of Beechford. It is a small beach side village on the northern coast of Tasmania, 48.0 kilometres (29.8 mi) north of Launceston. Beechford is also the place where the Curries River joins up with the Tasman Sea in Bass Strait. The village is surrounded by farmland, and land administered by Crown Lands, the Department of Defence, and Parks and Wildlife, creating a natural corridor of unbroken sea views. This beautiful part of Tasmania, with its warm, relatively dry micro-climate and stunning beach and conservation areas, is still "undiscovered" by tourism, leaving visitors to enjoy the area relatively undisturbed.

Kelso is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of West Tamar in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) north of the town of Beaconsfield. The 2016 census has a population of 146 for the state suburb of Kelso. It is located west of George Town. It was settled in the early 19th century and is located on Kelso Bay, a small bay on the Tamar River. Kelso is known as a fishing resort for flathead, whiting and mullet. Kelso is also located near the Narawntapu National Park.

York Town is a rural locality in the local government areas (LGA) of West Tamar and Latrobe in the Launceston and North-west and west LGA regions of Tasmania. The locality is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-west of the town of Beaconsfield. The 2016 census has a population of 72 for the state suburb of York Town. It was the first attempt to establish a British presence in northern Tasmania, in 1804. It was a "bustling village" until 1808.

Garden Island is a tied island 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Clarence Point, near the mouth of the Tamar River in Tasmania. It is accessed by a dirt road off Bevic Road, which runs between West Tamar Highway, Kelso and Clarence Point Road.

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

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

References

  1. 1 2 "Map of Tamar River, TAS". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Survey Co-ordination (21403)" (PDF). Tasmanian Government Gazette. 5 February 2014. p. 155. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "George Town Council". georgetown.tas.gov.au.
  4. ↑ "The 'burial ground' where 14 ships were deliberately sent to their watery graves". ABC News. 31 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "The Development of the Port of Launceston". Launceston Historical Society. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Bass Strait Passenger Ships and Passenger/Vehicle Ferries". users.nex.net.au/~reidgck.
  7. ↑ "Tamar River Cruises". tamarrivercruises.com.au.
  8. ↑ Bladen, F. M. (Frank Murcott), ed. (1898). Historical records of New South Wales, Volume 5—King, 1803-1805. Sydney: Charles Potter, Government Printer (published 1897). p. 497.


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