O'Shannassy River

The O'Shannassy River is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the north-eastern Greater Metropolitan Melbourne region of the Australian state of Victoria.

O'Shannassy Ligar River East Branch, O'Shannassy River East Branch[1]
Location of the O'Shannassy River mouth in Victoria
Etymology	In honour of John O'Shanassy (sic)[2]
Location
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	South Eastern Highlands (IBRA), Greater Metropolitan Melbourne
Local government area	Yarra Ranges Shire
Physical characteristics
Source	Yarra Ranges, Great Dividing Range
• location	below Mount Observation
• coordinates	37°33′29″S 145°49′28″E
• elevation	744 m (2,441 ft)
Mouth	confluence with the Yarra River
• location	west of McMahons Creek
• coordinates	37°42′43″S 145°45′34″E
• elevation	338 m (1,109 ft)
Length	15 km (9.3 mi)
Basin features
River system	Port Phillip catchment
Tributaries
• right	Deep Creek (Yarra Ranges, Victoria), Smith Creek (Yarra Ranges, Victoria)
National park	Yarra Ranges National Park
[1][3]

Location and features

The O'Shannassy River rises within the Yarra Ranges National Park on the slopes of the Yarra Ranges, within the Great Dividing Range, below Mount Observation, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Melbourne. The river flows generally south by southwest, joined by two minor tributaries, before being impounded to create the O'Shannassy Reservoir, part of Melbourne's water supply system. Below the reservoir the natural flow of the river is diverted via the O’Shannassy Aqueduct and then reaches its confluence with the Yarra River west of the locality of McMahons Creek.[4][5] The river descends approximately 406 metres (1,332 ft) over its 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) course, before being diverted via the aqueduct.[3]

The O’Shannassy River catchment is identified as an Essentially Natural Catchment by the Land Conservation Council.[6]

Etymology

The river is named after John O'Shanassy (sic), the second Premier of Victoria.[2]

See also

• List of rivers of Victoria

References

1. "O'Shannassy River: 22847". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
2. "Our history". Yarra Ranges Shire Council. Archived from the original on 9 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
3. "Map of O'Shannassy River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
4. "Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy". Melbourne Water and Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
5. "Catchment overview". Melbourne Water. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
6. "Rivers and Streams - Special Investigations, Final Recommendations" (PDF). Land Conservation Council. June 1991. ISBN 0-7241-9250-6. Retrieved 15 September 2010.