Avon River (Grampians, Victoria)
The Avon River, an inland intermittent river of the Wimmera catchment, located in the Grampians and Wimmera regions of the Australian state of Victoria. Rising on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, the Avon River flows north-westerly to reach its confluence with the Richardson River. The rivers of the Wimmera catchment drain into a series of ephemeral lakes that, whilst they do not directly empty into a defined watercourse, they form part of the Murray River catchment of the Murray-Darling basin.
Avon | |
---|---|
![]() ![]() Location of the Avon River mouth in Victoria | |
Native name | Wityellibar, Kurakibiyal[1][2][3] |
Location | |
Country | Australia |
State | Victoria |
Region | Murray Darling Depression (IBRA), Wimmera |
Local government area | Northern Grampians |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Great Dividing Range |
Source confluence | Avon Creek and Sandy Creek |
• location | Beazleys Bridge; west of St Arnaud |
• coordinates | 36°41′59.9″S 143°10′2.9″E |
• elevation | 195 m (640 ft) |
Mouth | confluence with the Richardson River |
• location | Banyena; northwest of Marnoo |
• coordinates | 36°34′16″S 142°49′33″E |
• elevation | 133 m (436 ft) |
Length | 64 km (40 mi) |
Basin features | |
River system | Wimmera catchment |
Tributaries | |
• left | Faulkner Creek |
[1][4] |
Location and features
The Avon River rises on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, near Beazleys Bridge, west of St Arnaud. The rivers flows in a highly meandering course generally west by north, joined by one minor tributary, before reaching its mouth to flow into the Richardson River at Banyena; northwest of Marnoo. The Avon River descends 62 metres (203 ft) over its 64-kilometre (40 mi) course.[4]
Etymology
In the local indigenous language the river is named Wityellibar, with no defined meaning; and in the Djadjawurrung language, Kurakibiyal, with kurak meaning "sand" and biyal, meaning "red gum".[1][2][3]
See also
- List of rivers of Victoria
References
- "Avon River (entry 613203)". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- Smyth, Robert Brough (1878). The Aborigines of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 176.
- Clark, Ian; Heydon, Toby (2011). "Avon River: Traditional Names". Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.
- "Map of Avon River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
External links
- "Wimmera-Avoca". Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Australian Government. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- "Avon/Richardson River longitudinal profile" (PDF). Murray-Darling Basin Authority (PDF). Australian Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- "Wimmera". Our rivers. Environment Victoria.