Noosa River

Last updated

Noosa River
Noosa-river.jpg
Location
CountryAustralia
State Queensland
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Como Escarpment
Mouth  
  location
Pacific Ocean
Basin size854 km2 (330 sq mi) [1]

The Noosa River is a river situated in South East Queensland. The catchment starts in the Como Escarpment near Mount Elliott in the coastal Great Sandy National Park and meanders south through a lakes district around Tewantin. [2]

Contents

Lakes situated on the river include Lake Cooloola, Lake Como, Lake Cootharaba, Lake Cooroibah and Lake Weyba. The catchment is mostly covered by sand dunes and has two major tributariesKin Kin Creek and Teewah Creek. [1]

The Noosa River enters the Coral Sea between Noosa Heads and Noosa North Shore. Substantial residential development has encroached into areas previously occupied by the changing river path. The river is noted for its populations of migratory birdlife. [3]

History

Pelican on the banks of the Noosa River Pelecanus conspicillatus.jpg
Pelican on the banks of the Noosa River

Logging along the river began in 1864. The logs were transported north to a sawmill near Maryborough until 1870 when a sawmill was built on Lake Cootharaba. [4]

Richard Branson purchased Makepeace Island on the river in May 2003. Noosa Council scaled down his plans for a luxury resort on the river. [5]

Lazing about on Upper Noosa River in a canoe, 2022 Lazing about on Upper Noosa River in a canoe, 2022.jpg
Lazing about on Upper Noosa River in a canoe, 2022

Several kilometres of beach to the north of the mouth were a popular destination for four-wheel driving, until Sunshine Coast Regional Council placed restrictions on them in May 2007. [3]

Chemical contamination has been the suspected cause of a fish mutation resulting in two-headed fish larvae found in the Noosa River. [6] Government investigations into the problem began in 2007. A final scientific report into the cause of the spawning was delayed in 2010 because of the potential to prejudice ongoing civil court proceedings involving the hatchery and a nearby macadamia nut farm. [7]

Until the 1960s the Noosa beach and river entrance were in a state of dynamic equilibrium. The beach was wide and usable and it recovered quickly from the occasional extreme storm events such as cyclones. From the mid-1960s rapid development on the beachfront including building a rockwall along the beach created instability. The beach became narrow and often non existent at high tide. At this time the river entered the sea at the present day Noosa Woods. In 1978 a training wall was built to relocate the river entrance to the northwest where it is today. [8]

Attractions

The Noosa River Ferry approaching Noosaville, 2019 Noosa Ferry on Noosa River approching Noosaville, Queensland 01.jpg
The Noosa River Ferry approaching Noosaville, 2019

The Noosa Ferry operates along the Noosa River from Noosa Heads via Noosaville to Tewantin with timetabled regular services and tourist cruises. [9]

Noosa River & Canal Cruises offers tourist cruises on the Noosa River and its canals departing Noosaville and Noosa Heads. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noosa National Park</span> Protected area in Queensland, Australia

Noosa National Park is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 121 km north of Brisbane. It is situated near Noosa Heads between the Pacific Ocean and the Sunshine Coasts's northern area of urban development and extends southwards, past Lake Weyba to Coolum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noosa Heads, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Noosa Heads is a coastal town and suburb in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the suburb of Noosa Heads had a population of 4,484 people. It is a popular holiday destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Noosa</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Noosa is a local government area about 130 kilometres (81 mi) north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast district of South East Queensland, Australia. The shire covers an area of 870 square kilometres (335.9 sq mi). It existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it was amalgamated with the Shire of Maroochy and City of Caloundra to form the Sunshine Coast Region. The shire was re-established on 1 January 2014. In the 2021 census, the shire had a population of 56,298 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tewantin</span> Suburb of Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia

Tewantin is a town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. Tewantin was the original settlement in the Noosa region and is one of its three major centres today. In the 2021 census, the locality of Tewantin had a population of 11,164 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Cootharaba</span> Lake in Queensland, Australia

Lake Cootharaba is a lake on the Noosa River within the locality of Noosa North Shore in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. It is the gateway to the Everglades, a popular tourist attraction for Noosa, being 20 km away from Noosa. The lake's major access is the town of Boreen Point, as well as the smaller camping-spot of Elanda Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noosaville</span> Suburb of Noosa, Queensland, Australia

Noosaville is a town and suburb in Noosa in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Noosaville had a population of 8,124 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kin Kin</span> Suburb of Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia

Kin Kin is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 764 people. In the 2021 census the population had risen to 844.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castaways Beach, Queensland</span> Suburb of Noosa, Queensland, Australia

Castaways Beach is a coastal suburb in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Castaways Beach had a population of 656 people.

Doonan is a rural residential locality split between the Sunshine Coast Region and the Shire of Noosa, both in Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Doonan had a population of 3,459 people.

Marcus Beach is a coastal suburb in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Marcus Beach had a population of 757 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinbeerwah, Queensland</span> Suburb of Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia

Tinbeerwah is a semi-rural locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Tinbeerwah had a population of 1,160 people.

Ringtail Creek is a rural locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Ringtail Creek had a population of 197 people.

Cootharaba is a rural locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Cootharaba had a population of 866 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Como, Queensland</span> Suburb of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Como is a rural locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Como had a population of 54 people.

Weyba Downs is a rural locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Weyba Downs had a population of 296 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tewantin National Park</span> Protected area in Queensland, Australia

The Tewantin National Park is a 13 square kilometre national park in Queensland, Australia. It consists of five individual areas west of Noosa Heads in the Wide Bay-Burnett region about 115 kilometres north of Brisbane and 125 km south of Hervey Bay. The park is divided into disconnected sections within Lake Macdonald, Tinbeerwah, Tewantin and Noosaville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noosa River Caravan Park</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Noosa River Caravan Park is a heritage-listed caravan park at Russell Street, Noosaville, Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1929 onwards. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 April 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mill Point Settlement Site</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Mill Point Settlement Site is a heritage-listed former settlement at Elanda Point at Lake Cootharaba in Como, Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1869 to the 1940s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 April 2005.

Cooroy–Noosa Road is a continuous 12.5-kilometre (7.8 mi) road route in the Noosa local government area of Queensland, Australia. It is signed as State Route 6 for most of its length. It is a state-controlled district road for most of its length.

Eumundi–Noosa Road is a continuous 15.8-kilometre (9.8 mi) road route in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa local government areas of Queensland, Australia. It is signed as State Route 12 for most of its length. For a short distance in Noosaville it is part of State Route 6. It is a state-controlled regional road for most of its length. Part of it is rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).

References

  1. 1 2 "Water resources - Overview - Queensland - Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Noosa River". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  2. weyba. "Noosa Integrated Catchment Association - the Noosa River Catchment". Noosa Integrated Catchment Association. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Birds return to Noosa River". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  4. Explore Queensland's National Parks. Prahran, Victoria: Explore Australia Publishing. 2008. p. 24. ISBN   978-1-74117-245-4.
  5. "Virgin tycoon presses on with luxury island resort". Sydney Morning Herald . 27 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  6. Brian Williams and Sophie Elsworth (13 January 2009). "Two-headed fish larvae blamed on farm chemicals in Noosa River". News Limited. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  7. Marrisa Calligeros (23 July 2010). "Two-headed fish report kept under wraps". Brisbane Times . Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Ferry". Noosa Marina. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  10. "Home - Noosa River & Canal Cruises". www.noosariverandcanalcruises.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.

26°21′S153°04′E / 26.350°S 153.067°E / -26.350; 153.067