Murray River
The Murray River is the largest river in Australia. It starts high in the Snowy Mountains and flows mainly west until it gets to the sea near Goolwa, South Australia.
| Murray River | |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Goolwa, South Australia |
| Length | 2,575 km (1,600 mi) |
For much of its length it forms the boundary between Victoria and New South Wales. Other rivers join the Murray, the Darling River, the Lachlan River, the Murrumbidgee River and the Goulburn River.
History
For thousands of years, the Murray River has been known to Aboriginal Australians, who called it various names such as Millewa and Tongala.
The river was later called the Hume River after it was visited by European explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in November 1824. Explorer Charles Sturt renamed the river in January 1830 after a British politician, Sir George Murray. In 1852, the government offered a bonus of $8,000 for the first paddlesteamer to reach Echuca. This was achieved by both William Randell and Francis Cadell.[1]
Randell built a steamboat the Mary Ann, named after his mother, to start trading in 1853. Soon it was racing Captain Francis Cadell's steamer and river trading began. This provided many new jobs and started new settlements and industries along the entire length of the river Murray system. G.B. Johnston sailed a steam boat as far as Albury in 1855. The river was very important for carrying people and goods until the railways took over. By 1900 the river trade was just about over.[2]
Murray River Media
Lower course of the Murray River at Murray Bridge
The confluence of the Murray River and Murrumbidgee River near the town of Boundary Bend
The confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers at Wentworth, New South Wales
Murray Mouth viewed from Hindmarsh Island
The PS Murray Princess is the largest paddlewheeler operating on the Murray River.
The PS Melbourne passing through Lock 11 at Mildura
A paddle steamer passing another on the Murray at night, about 1880
A branch of the Murray in its middle reaches, near Howlong
Locations of the barrages at the mouth of the Murray
Goolwa Barrage viewed from the freshwater side
References
- ↑ "The River Murray". South Australian History. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ↑ Australian Encyclopaedia Vol. VI. Angus and Robertson. 1958. p. 208.
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