Gibraltar Creek, a

perennial stream A perennial stream is a stream that has continuous flow of surface water throughout the year in at least parts of its catchment during seasons of normal rainfall, Water Supply Paper 494. as opposed to intermittent river, one whose flow is interm ...

that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. There are several types of Greenhoods found along the creek's banks. Historical Aboriginal camp-sites have been also found on the creek banks.

Location and features

Gibraltar Creek rises on the eastern slopes of the

Brindabella Ranges The Brindabella Range, commonly called The Brindabellas or The Brindies, is a mountain range located in Australia, on a state and territory border of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The range rises to the west of C ...

in the south-west of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), below Billy Billy Rocks in

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a protected area, on the fringe of Namadgi National Park. Tidbinbilla is a short drive from the capital city of Australia, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. The nature reserve consists of a large val ...

, within

Namadgi National Park Namadgi National Park is a protected area in the south-west of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), bordering Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. It lies approximately southwest of Canberra, and occupies approximately 46 percent of ...

. The creek flows generally north-east before reaching its

confluence In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...

with Paddys River, south-west of

Tuggeranong Town Centre Tuggeranong Town Centre services the southernmost Canberra district of Tuggeranong. It is located on the south-western side of Lake Tuggeranong and composed of a large two-storey mall called South.Point Tuggeranong, as well as smaller shopping co ...

. The creek descends over its course. Gibraltar Falls are found on the Gibraltar Creek; and Gibraltar Creek Woods Reserve are located on the creek's edge.

Wildlife and vegetation

Vegetation found on the banks of the creek include threatened flora such as the Scarlet Greenhoods, Fisch's Greenhood, Faint Greenhoods, Nodding Greenhoods and Maroonhoods. '' E. callianassa'', ''

Banksia ''Banksia'' is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes, and fruiting "cones" and heads. ''Banksias'' range i ...

'' and '' B. marginata'' have been found in the creek. In 1930, the

Cotter River The Cotter River, a perennial river of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The Cotter River, together with the Queanbeyan River, is one of two rivers that prov ...

was stocked with New Zealand trout, which were expected to migrate up the tributaries including the creek.

History

Historical Aboriginal camp-sites have been found on the creek banks. In 1863, land abutting the creek was sold at auction. During late 1933 and early 1934, the river flooded several times and made it difficult to cross the creek. A motion was made to Australia's Minister for the Interior to cement over the creek bed to make crossing during the flood more feasible. By 1934, ramps had been added to assist in crossing the creek, replacing gates that had been placed there for cattle crossings. Bushwalkers organised walks alongside the creek in the 1950s. In 1954, hikers got lost in the area and a search for them took place near the creek. In 1957, a teenager was shot while hiking near the creek.

References

{{Rivers of the Australian Capital Territory , state=autocollapse Rivers of the Australian Capital Territory Murray-Darling basin