Campaspe River (Victoria)

The Campaspe River, an inland intermittent river of the northcentral catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands and Wimmera regions of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Campaspe River rise on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and descend to flow north into the Murray River, Australia's longest river, near Echuca.

Location and features

From its source in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range below Red Hill, the Campaspe River rises in the Wombat State Forest northwest of and southwest of near and Firth Park, a local camping ground and historical area. The river then flows west of the township of and continues north through the town of . The middle reaches of the river are dominated by Lake Eppalock, a constructed reservoir. The Coliban River, the most significant tributary of the Campaspe, also flows into Lake Eppalock. Towns located on the river in this area include located just south of Eppalock and , located just below Eppalock. The towns of and lie on the river's lower reaches. The river meets its confluence with the Murray River west of the town of Echuca, located adjacent to the state border between Victoria and New South Wales.

In addition to the Coliban River, the Campaspe River is joined by six minor tributaries and passes through the Campaspe Weir. The river descends over its course.

The river is crossed three times by the Calder Freeway near Kyneton; and by the McIvor Highway near Eppalock. The Midland Highway and Northern Highway duplex crosses the river at Elmore and the Murray Valley Highway and Northern Highway duplex crosses the river at Echuca.

History

Indigenous Australians lived in the catchment for millennia.

Europeans arrived in the upper catchment area in 1834. After European settlement, native vegetation was removed from part of the area, which was replanted with willow trees and hedgerows of hawthorn bushes, some of the latter remaining today. Over a number of years the willow growth has been progressively cleared and eradicated by local groups of volunteers. The willow-free parts of the river have been subsequently replanted with indigenous species. Walking routes and cycle tracks have been installed along one bank of the river, creating a sustainable leisure resource for the town.

Etymology

As the river is relatively long, indigenous peoples from various cultural groups lived near the river course. In the indigenous Yorta Yorta language, the name for the river is ''Yalka'' or ''Yalooka'', meaning "dry leaf." In the Taungurung language the name for the river is ''Boregam'', with no clearly defined meaning. While in the Taungurung and Ngurai-illam Wurrung language, the river is named ''Yerrin'', with no clearly defined meaning.

It was named by Major Mitchell in 1836 for Campaspe, a mistress of Alexander the Great., entry for 5 October 1836

See also

* List of rivers of Victoria

References

External links

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Rivers of Victoria (Australia)
North-Central catchment
Rivers of Loddon Mallee (region)
Rivers of Hume (region)
Tributaries of the Murray River
Central Highlands (Victoria)
Wimmera