Thomson River (Victoria)

Last updated

Thomson
Thomson River bridge 1910.jpg
A bridge over the Thomson River, pictured in 1910
Australia Victoria relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of the Thomson River mouth in Victoria
EtymologyIn honour of Sir Edward Thomson [1] [2]
Native name
Location
Country Australia
State Victoria
Region South East Coastal Plain (IBRA), West Gippsland
Local government area Shire of Wellington
Settlements Heyfield, Sale
Physical characteristics
Source Baw Baw Plateau, Great Dividing Range
 • locationnear Newlands
 • coordinates 37°44′45″S146°10′42″E / 37.74583°S 146.17833°E / -37.74583; 146.17833
 • elevation972 m (3,189 ft)
Mouth confluence with the Latrobe River
 • location
near Sale
 • coordinates
 38°8′45″S147°5′11″E / 38.14583°S 147.08639°E / -38.14583; 147.08639
 • elevation
2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Length170 km (110 mi)
Basin size10,855.2 km2 (4,191.2 sq mi) [6]
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average102.05 m3/s (3,220 GL/a) [6]
Basin features
River system West Gippsland catchment
Tributaries 
 • leftMatlock Creek, Jordan River, Aberfeldy River, Stringers Creek, Lammers Creek, Stoney Creek, Macalister River
[7]

The Thomson River, a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, is located in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

Contents

Location and features

The Thomson River rises below Newlands at the north western end of the Baw Baw Plateau of the Great Dividing Range, where it shares a watershed with the Yarra and Tanjil rivers. From its source, the river flows generally north, then east, then south southeast through its impoundment, then southeast, then east, and finally east by south, joined by seventeen tributaries including the Jordan, Aberfeldy, and Macalister rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Latrobe River near Sale. The river descends 970 metres (3,180 ft) over its 170-kilometre (110 mi) course. [7] [8]

The Thomson Valley was intensively mined for gold during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Prospector "Ned" Stringer discovered significant quantities of alluvial gold at the junction of what is now known as Stringers Creek. A short distance up that creek the gold mining township of Walhalla was established. The first person to walk the entire length of the river was Ronald Le Sage, father of David Le Sage, who explored its viability for a cattle droving route in 1959. [9] [10]

The river is impounded not far below its source by the Thomson Dam, creating Thomson Reservoir. The reservoir provides around 70% of Melbourne's water storage and supplies about 30% of Melbourne's water needs. [11] This takes about 50% of the river's natural flow, which places a great environmental stress downstream. It particularly affects the Gippsland Lakes, which include Lake Wellington, Lake Victoria and Lake King. This area has international significance as a Ramsar listed wetland site. [12]

Diversion tunnel

The 170-metre (560 ft) Victorian heritage-listed diversion tunnel is located on the river near its junction with Coopers Creek (and the locality of Platina), approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south-west of Walhalla. Tunnelling commenced in August 1911 and was completed around October 1912; making the diversion tunnel one of thirteen river diversions surviving from the Victorian gold rush. [13]

Etymology

In the Aboriginal Brataualung language the river is given two names: Tambo, with no defined meaning, [3] and Carrang-carrang or Carrang-carrang, meaning "brackish water". [4] [5]

The river was given its English name in 1840 by Angus McMillan in honour of Sir Edward Thomson, the Chief Secretary of the Colony of New South Wales, based in Sydney. [1] [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

The Baw Baw National Park is a national park located on the boundary between the Victorian Alps and Gippsland regions of Victoria, Australia. The 13,530-hectare (33,400-acre) national park is situated approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Melbourne and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Latrobe Valley. The park contains the forest covered Baw-Baw Plateau and surrounds the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avon River (Gippsland, Victoria)</span> River in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia

The Avon River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region, of the Australian state of Victoria. The Avon, forms an important part of the Latrobe sub-catchment, draining the south eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, to form the Gippsland Lakes.

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

The Mitchell River is a perennial river of the East Gippsland catchment, located in the Australian state of Victoria. The unregulated river provides a unique example of riparian ecology, flowing generally south with the catchment area drawing from the steep mountains of the Victorian Alps to enter Lake King, one of the Gippsland Lakes, and then empty into the Bass Strait.

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

The Latrobe River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. The Latrobe River and its associated sub-catchment is an important source for the Gippsland Lakes, draining the south eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

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

The Tambo River or Berrawan is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. With a total length in excess of 186 kilometres (116 mi), the Tambo River is one of the longest rivers in the East Gippsland drainage basin, extending from the steep forested southern slopes of the Victorian Alps through forest and farmland to the Gippsland Lakes.

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

The Nicholson River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Thomson River Diversion Tunnel, also known as the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel or the Chinese Tunnel, is located on the Thomson River near the junction with Coopers Creek, approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south-west of Walhalla, Victoria, Australia. The site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and covered by a Heritage Overlay.

The Watts River is a perennial river of the Port Phillip and Western Port catchment, located in the Healesville area, in the Central region of the Australian state of Victoria.

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

The Macalister River, a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, is located in the Alpine and Gippsland regions of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Perry River is a perennial river of the East Gippsland catchment, located in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Tarwin River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the South Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. The Tarwin River is the primary river system within South Gippsland Shire and has a catchment area of approximately 1,500 square kilometres (580 sq mi), predominantly rural with small pockets of residential land use. It flows south from the Strzlecki Ranges and discharges in the eastern reaches of Anderson Inlet, a shallow estuary connected to Bass Strait.

The Jordan River, a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, is located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Ada River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

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

The Aberfeldy River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Toorongo River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Loch River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Tanjil River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Tyers River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Moe River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

Coopers Creek is a locality and mine in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. In the 1860s, Coopers Creek was settled during the Victorian gold rush and, throughout its history, gold, copper and lime have been mined there. Today, Coopers Creek is effectively limited to two camping sites, the first near the site of the mining town and the second to the east at Bruntons Bridge. Ruins from the locality's mining history, and the Copper Mine Hotel are all of the locality's history which survives. In August 2022, the 21 properties that comprise the town were listed for sale.

References

  1. 1 2 Blake, Les (1977). Place names of Victoria. Adelaide: Rigby. p. 198. ISBN   0-7270-0250-3.
  2. 1 2 "Thomson River: 27701: Historical Information". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Thomson River: 27701: Traditional Name: Tambo". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Thomson River: 27701: Traditional name: Carrang-carrang". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Thomson River: 27701: Traditional name: Carrang-carran". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  6. 1 2 "East Coastal Watersheds".
  7. 1 2 "Map of Thomson River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  8. ↑ West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority; Department of Sustainability and Environment; Melbourne Water Corporation; Southern Rural Water (September 2003). "Thomson River Environmental Flow Requirements and Options to Manage Flow Stress" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  9. ↑ Nash, Robert (2015). New Tapestry: Australian Huguenot Families. Huguenot Society of Australia Incorporated.
  10. ↑ Le Sage, David (2020). Refugees for God: a Genealogy of the Le Sage Family (with Additional Genealogies of the Williams, Totenhöfer, Wallace and Carlsen Families).
  11. ↑ Premier of Victoria (24 October 2010). "All Water Returned to the Yarra and Thomson Rivers" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  12. ↑ Environment Victoria - Thomson River
  13. ↑ "Thomson River Diversion Tunnel, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1990, Heritage Overlay Number HO261". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.