ATLAS OF AUSTRALIA—1886.
aturally u •TLo (Irainago falls the following lieads >
I, Nortli Slope.
2- SoutL Slope.
3. Tuloud Slope.
With but few oxceptiocs, the volume of the rivers is small, and
liable to considei-ablo fluctuation. After heavy rainfall, the accumulated
waters assume coiiaidorable proportions, and not infrequently,
overfiow fcheii- banks, flooding the adjoining country. Duiing seasons
of drought, the streams, in mnuy cases, almost disappear, and rivers
heoomo reduced to mere chains of water-holes, with little or no
flow between. The only rivers navigable for shipping are, tho Tarra
Tarra, Goulbiim, Muri-ay, La T.-obo, and Mitchell. The importance
of the nver system of Victoria only becomes evident
connection with the large area of country drained, and the possibility
in the future of utilising it in connection ^vith a comprelienaive scheme
for irngatiou. The rivers could be made to assist in m o d i ^ n g the
evil ellects of an insufficient raiufal! at one period, by conserving the
flood-waters, which, at other times, find their way to the sea without
benefiting the country on their banks. Some of the rivers i't, t.l,»
north-west portion of the colony become loi
between the mountains and the Murray.
NoRia SwPE.—
The uumei-ous sfci-eams which take their i
of the Great Dividing Range, flow into t
to unite ultimately with the waters of som
rivers of Queensland and New South "Wales,
therefore, forms a prominent part of the bas:
M-urraj,.—The Murray, wliicl
river in Australia, takes its ris<
Forest HiU. It has, at first, a n
afterwards changes to west-nor
New South "Wales until its esi
meridian. In addition to the d
îl wastes
rther.
•ith the ,
tho Murray Ri
ac of the most important
This portion of Victoria,
sin of that rivei-.
out doubt, the most important
rise in tho Great Dividing Chain, near
northerly tendency in its coui-se, which
north-west, and separates Victoria from
exit into South Australia at the 141st
e description of this river already given
iphy of New South Wales, it might here
'lume is considerably augmented by the tributaries
le stated that
which enter it on the left bank ft^om Victoria, Its length is about
1,200 miles, and taking into consideration the tributaries received
bank from Queeusland and New South Wales as woll as
that join it on the left bank from Victoria, the country
th.
•aiued rejjresents a total area of over 300,000 square miles
Milla Mitla. - The Mitta Mitta Biver has its source in the
usti-alian Alps, near Mount Phipps, and at first flow.s in a nortii-northist
direction, amid the labyrinth of spurs which diversify the surface
this portion of Victoria, It after\vardg turas
id flows into tho Murray east of the 147th
Range, join it as it turns t(
Its general direction thence is west
tions from the Strathbogie Mountains,
the waters of the Siigarloaf Creek, it
follows a course to the north-east, and
the dii'ection changes t« north-west,
distance above Echuca, after a cours
winding and tortuous character,
large
tanges.
west round the Cerbereau Ranges,
• skirts tho numerous ramificau
latitude 8 ifter receiving
urns to the uoi-th-west; then
.8 it advances into the plains,
t reaches the Mnnwj a short
noticeable on account of its
its i-ight bank, it receives a
ibutaries fi-om the northern face of the Strathbogie
-iipal of these are. Muddy, Castle, Sevm, and
•within a very short
sr, joins
H slight
the Murray
the CoUbmi
•ributarii take their among the gorges and r;
irth-west.
Several
most elevated portion of the DivitUng Cha;_.
tained to some extent by the snow-falls that take
mountains. The Big River, which joins it on the
Lake Omeo, receives part of its stream from «
Moun
!SOf t
Kir. •The Eie I River has
Ilotham, and skirts the eastern flanl
ol! to tho north from this portio
sources of several of the s
in close proximity to t!
Bundarrnh Eiwr, and oth
Own?.—The Ovens R
« principal source
rn flank of the lofty spurwh
portion of the Dividing
ams -»vhich add to its volume
head waters of the Cobungra Greeh,
iffluents of the Mitta Mitta.
• rises near St. Bernard Mount, in the
; various small streams from the western
•nd Feathertop. The foi-mation of the
is governed by the paralJeliam of two
in chain, which bound it on tho east and
I away fi'om its cramped surroundings, it
•>orth-west, and reaches tho Slun-ay at
Dividing Chain, and rece'
slope of Mounts Hothat
upper portion of its bas
prominent spurs from the
west sides. At last, breal
assumes a direction to tl
Bundalong. Numerous tributaries
these occur principally on the left bank. The
the Bwkland, Buffalo, and King Bivera.
GotJiiirn.—The Goulburn River is conspicu,
character of its course. Its upper water
streams, which receive the drainage of a verj- large e.Ttei
These are the Gouihur,^ (proper), Jamison, Eowqua,
Rii-cr«, and Bnmkeel Cre-ek. The Goulburn rises on
slopes of Mount Macloc-k in the Dividmg Chai
After passing Moun
f t bai ik near
them face of
Mount
kick b ranches
Chair 1. The
e are s lituated
Violet Creeks. The Broken River,
distance of one of tho small affluents of the Delatite Riv
it farther down the stream, near Mooroopna.
npper waters of the Campaspe River iss
the face of the Great Dividing Range near Mount Macedón,
coui-se, for a considerable distance, is towards the north
advances into the plains, and approaches the Murray Biver,
divergence to the east is mado. The conflnem
takes place near Echuca. Its principal tributai
River, and Myrtle, Axe, and Mclvor Creeks.
Loddon.—The Loddon River rises in the Dividing Chain, in close
proximity to the sourcc of the CoUban, one of the principal tributaries
of the Campaspe River. Its course, as it issues from the mountains,
has a general tendency to the north-west. After receiving t i e waters
>f Bet Bet or McNñl'e Creek, it turns to the north; as it approaches
;he Murray, it diverges to the west, and foi' some distance nuis
parallel with that river. In the lower part of its course, the level
lature of the countiy and the loose character of tho soil, tend towards
the fonnation of ana-branches. Its waters roach the Mi
y through
la-branch which bonnds Pent^il or Splatts Island .„^
The Loddon has several tributaries, among which may be mentioned^
Crow, Joyce's, Middle, Deep, Bet Bel or Mcmi's, Bnlluhul,
CamphelVs, Bradford, and Pyrar^id Creeks, and Mm-rahit River.
. The Avoca River rises on tho slopes of the Pyrenees,
and has a general direction to the north. From the low i-auges
:tending noi-th from Laudsborough Hill, it receives the watei-s of
large number of small tributary streams. Though apparently
governed by the genei-al slope north to the Murray, the Avoca does
not reach that river.
Avon.—This I'iver receives the
of the low ranges in tho ricinity of
cut off from the rainfall of the Diof
the Wimmera River; as a cons,
increasing or decreasing
end in Lake Buloke, nea
IFmmffi-a.—The Wii
ing Chai,
ling from the slopes
I. Its tributaries arc
by the upper portion
volume is uncertain.
ivith the character of
the southern margin of the Mallei
Its waters
Pyrenees Mountains, near Ben Nevis, and rms ior a'cra¡id¡raUo
distance, m a north-west direction. After receiving several tributaries
from tlie Grampians, it turns to the noi'th. A little to the south of
the 86th pai-allel, it reaches Lake Hindmarsh, through which its waters
flow. Issuing again from the lake on the north, the Wimmera
advances into the plains, and entei-s Lake Albacutya, On the north
side of this lake its suiplus waters have given rise to the Outlet Creek,
which, after proceeding some distance towards the Murray, becomes
lost in the sand-hills around Warrengren Plain. A rather singular
) illustratii
vhieh i
to i
"portant a
il north-west directi
by the Javiieson Jiiv
Clear. Some distance farti
of the Homjua Rivc-r, which
unit<.>d streams of the Delatite Rk
and the Bnmkeel Creek, whicli di-a.
Strathbogie Mountains and the cas
for the
iposed of five
•qua, and D^lalil„
!s on the eastern
id at fii-st, flows in
its CI
face of Moui
ives the watei
•r Mount Howitt. The
? near Mount Buller,
Butheru slopes of tho
:ershod of the Puzr.le
1 branches
of the dry, tlm'sty character of the plains throngh
-WS, occurs in connection with this river. As it turns
to the west, just before receiving tlie tributaries fi'om the Grampians,
part of the stream (known as the YarrianMack) diverges to the north,
but becoming lost in the plains near Lake Coorong, the waters of this
regain the parent stream. Tlie Dimmnvi/le Creek,
lì farther up the stream, tei'minates iii a similar
manner, on the southern edge of the Jlallco Plains. Its chief
tributaries are—GIeiipatrick, ¡fount Cole, Cmcongella, Mount William,
Burnt, and Norton Creeks, and the Mackenzie Riv-r.
The Avoca, Avon, and Wimmera Rivers cm
tóctly speaking,
tcnninatioEs are
traceable to the
)rption, and ))erestablished
be regarded as instances of an inland slope, as
not the result of an absence of further fall, bu
exhaustion of their waters through uvaporatior
eolation. It has been suggested that aportion n
reaches the M.m-ay under the surface of the jjlnins ; though tin
:h a theory, it cannot bo regarded i
ther mvostigation has shown how
fact, nnti
of tho dispersion is dv
percolation to a lowei
gauged with a lair ai
facts connectcd >vith absorptii
estimate has been
1 effects of evi
if accuracy, but so
ind liorcolntion,
rard to tho
Recent attempts to obtaiu wafer on tli
n tha pere n takes
; tliB result of
no satisfactoiy
) of each in the
Î plains, tend to
a much greater
VICTORIA.
estent than is genei-aJly supposed. Should such prove to be the case,
pastoi-alists and farmers have, in this natui-al conservation of water,
the means, ready to their hands, of removing the principal obstacle to
profitable occupation of the soil, in the gi-eat plains of the interior.
Socin Slope.—
The rivei-s of the southera slope, including the many small
unimportant creeks rismg in the hills and detached ranges near
the seaboard, are wore numerous than those which add their
waters to tho Murray. Much of the country traversed by these
streams is among the best watered portions of Victoria. As the
mam chain tlu'oughout its length is situated at no vsiy great distance
from the coast, bemg between 60 and 70 miles therefrom, tho courses
of the rivers flowing south are necessarily limited. The Glenelg,
which has a total length of 281 miles, and is the longest river on the
southern slope, has numerous windings, and for a considerable distance
after issuing from tho Grampian Mountains, flows in a westerly
direction. The flow of the Yarra Yarra to the west, and of the La
Trohe to the east, has determined for those rivers more cxte:
courses than would othenvise obtain. The rivers of Gippsland
inliuenced by the greater rainfall and the winter snows of
Australian Alps, and have generally a much more constant vo
than those flowing south from the Pyi-enees and Gmmpian Monntams.
Bars occur at the mouths of many of the southern rivers, and prevei
shipping from entering them. Attempts have been made, in son
cases, to remove these obstacles, but the liability to re-form always
Ge?wa.—The Genoa Biver has its source in New South Wales,
and flows in a south-east direction from the South Coast Range,
entering the sea neai' Bastion Point. In the lower portion of
course, it forms several broad lake-like expanses. Its principal
tributary, the Wallagaraugh,, joins it on the left bank.
Siiouiy.—The Snowy River rises in New South Wales, on the
eastern face of the Muniong Range, and after passing across the
dividing line, has a general course to the south, through country of a
very broken chai-actei-. It flows for a considerable distance among the
spui-s which branch off from the Australian Alps, and from the vaUeys
separating these lateral ranges, are received the waters of several
small streams. Its principal affluents are in New South Wales, and
have been referred to in connection with that colony. The follomng
tributary streams add to its volume in Victoria :—Jingallala, Toonginbooka,
Murrindal, and Btichan Rivers, and Mountain and Broadbent
Creeks. Near its month, the land is low, and spreads out into numerous
marshes and swamps; this has led to the formation of several small
'I'amho.—Tho Tambo River i:
Dividing Range, near Mount Leii
the south, emptying i
3 from 1
, and ha:
the \
s of the Gi'eal
i general direction tc
Ito Lake King, Nut
add toil
inges « neh off ñ-om the
course it is very
•inds round the
Idhead. As the
spreads out into
nd well suited to
rapidly increas-
especially noticeable where it. •
several spurs extending south-east from Mount Bi
Tambo approaches the coast, the land on both bank:
immense flats. These arc of a very fertile character,
agriculture; settlement in this portion of Gippsland i
ing. Its entrance from the lake is obstructed by a bai
a very recent date, completely prevented the pa.ssage of s
Dredging opei ations, however, have done much towards the
of this sandy ban'ier.
Nicholson.—Tlu! Nicholson River has its source near Mou
•h up to
lipping,
removal
head, and flows in ft so.
extend towai-ds the oceai
into the upper portion c
month of the Tambo Riv
Mitckell.—lhe upjier
•horly direction between the ranges which
fi'om that mountain, It empties its waters
Lake King, some distance west from the
waters of the Mitchell Rix
i—the Dargo River, which
o£ t 0 principal >
Hotham, and flows for
direction parallel to, auc
gungarra issuing from t
a south-easterly
lear the base of thi ;hain: the Won-
• face of tho Twins; and the Wonnangatta,
li has its source in the Barry Mountains, near Mount Howitt,
Moroka, a small affluent of tho Wonnangatta, collects the
northern slope of the elevated spurs lying near tlie
ities of Tanjil and Wonnangatta. The
stion in the upper portion of its course
it approaches the coast it turns more to
I King. For a considerable distance np
the land on both banks spreads out into
e fertihty. Immense areas are planted
of which forms an important industry
The
boundary betweei
Mitchell has a general
towards tho south-east,
the east, and flows into
noted tor their
hops, the
I this portion of the colony. The I navigable as far
which
Ì Tanjil,
Avoei.—The Avon River takes its rise in the m
branch to the south from the north boundary of the d
and flowing in a south-east direction, empties its waters into Luke
Wellington. A considerable portion of the flat lands lining the banks
of its lower course, aro devoted to the cultivation of the hop.
La H'obi,—-The watei-s of the La Trobe are collected by foar
principal streams, the sources of which lie at considerable distances
from each other j they are the Macallisler, Thomson, Moondarra, and
La Trohe (proper). The first-named has its source near Mount Clear,
and flows south, parallel to the main chain; subsequently, with a
course to the soutli-east, it joins the La Trobe just before its exit into
Lake Wellington. The Thomson River rises between Wright's Range
and the main cham, and flows in a south-east direction. Curving
round the southern extremity of the spurs which radiate from
Mount Useful, its course changes to the eastrsouth-eaat. South of tho
88th parallel, it joins the Macallister some distance up from the
confluence with the La Trobe, The Moondarra receives its waters
from the peaks in the vicinity of Moun
and finally, south-east, into the main
La Trobe (proper) is situated on the soi
the Dividing Chain, known in its westei
Range, The upper waters of this river
receiving the waters of the Moondarra,
and maintained, until the western shores of Lake Wellingtoi
reached. Among the smaller tributaries which augment its volum«
may be mentioned—Tyer's and Morwell Rivers, and Traralgon, Ftinn'i
and Bosedale Creeks. Affluents of some importance add to the water!
of the principal tributary streams already referred to.
t Baw Baw, and flows south,
stream. The som'ce of tho
ithem slopes of the spur from
n extension as the Dandenong
flow to the south-east. After
. l y e
rapra,—This small stream rises in the spurs extending south fi-on
Snake's Ridge, and flows in a southerly direction into Shoal Inlet.
Albert.—Thu Albert River, a short distance to the
Tarra, empties its waters into Port Albert.
Bass.—Tho Bass River takes its rise on the western
Strzelecki Range, and following a course to the south-wei
Western Port.
Lany Lang.—The Lang Lang River has its source in c
shed which separate its tributaries fi'om those of the Bast
empties its waters into Western Port. At its embouchui
of the
part of i
margin of the Koo-wee- p Swamp.
Yurra Yarra.—The
The lateral range at this point turns sud'
tion to west-north-west, formmg a long,
basin is boimded on the north by the
ourse it skirts the southern
• rises near Mount Baw Baw.
inly from a south-east direclarrow,
nigged valley. The
)ividing Chain, i
th by the spur referred to, which at its western tei-mination
kno'
the Dandenong Range. The streams which augment
pper ers are numerous, but on account of the conformatioi
groat length. In many
noticeable for its winding
'er is at first west, almost
passes Mount Graham, it
aters into Hobson's Bay.
1 this river near its emire,
the Ligar, WntW, Plenty,
portions of its course, the Yarra Yarra is
character. The general direction of the ri
paraDel with tho Dividing Chain. As it
turns to the soutli-west, and empties its a
The capital city of Victoria is situated c
and Salt Water Biters, and Walsk'e, Meola, Cement, MomU Monda,
Steel's, Artlnir's, Darebin and Merri Meiri Creeks, on the right bank,
and McMiihon's, Starvation, Saddle's, and McCrae's Creeks and the
Yarra Rivulet, on the left bank. It might hero bo noticed, that
the Salt Water River, the longest affluent of the Yarra Yami, rises
in the Dividing Chain, over 100 miles west from the soarce of the
main stream- The upper waters of the Plenty Biver are collected by
means of an immense embankment across the valley; tliis forms a
An open aqueduct for 7 miles, and pipes, bring the
vater into Melb
Kororoit.—The Kororoit Creek is a small str h enters Port
Phillip, a short distance west from Williamstown.
IFerritec.—The Werribee River has its source in the Great
Dividing Range, north from Mount Wilson, and flowing in a southeast
direction, empties its waters into Port Phillip Bay.
Little River.—This stream is unimportant; it enters Port Philhp a
short distance west from the Werribee River.
Boru'ojt.—The waters of the Barwon are collected by three principal
streams, the Moorarbool, Yarrowee, and the Barwon (proper).
The Moorarbool rises in the Great Dividing Range, and flowing in a
south-east direction, joins tho Barwon a short distance west from
Geelong. The Yarrowee or Leigh has its source in tho main chain
lorth from Ballarat, and preserves a parallelism to the Moorarbool,
reaching the Barwon at Inverloigh, Tlie Barwon (proper) receives
waters from the slopes of the low ranges branching north from
Cape Otway, and has a general direction, in the first part of its course,