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A T L A S OF AUSTRALIA—1886.
to the south-east, and flows into Broken Bny. The novtliern tendency
of this river is determined by the parallelism to the main range of
severnl spurs which bound its basin on the enst, aiid the slope north of
the Southern Tableland, through which, for a considerable distance, its
course lies. ID oue part, its waters find their way at the bottom of an
immense gorge, which is walled in by the spurs spreading north from
the Mittagoug Range, and is known as the valley of Burragorang.
Aft«r being joined by the waters of Coz'i i?iiier, the main stream
vfceives the name irnrroffnmfca; from the juuotiou of the Nepean to
the point where the Oosn Ricer adds its waters, it is called tho Nepean,
and thence on to the sea, the term Eaickf.s/tiir!/ is applied. It is
worthy of notice here, that the Cordeauj: and G/itaract Rivers, which
flow into the UpptT J^eytean, rise within a few miles of the sea-coast
on the western slope of the IllawaiTa Range. Tlie area drained
by the Hawkesbnry is enclosed by fonr distinct watersheds :—
1. A northerly slope, dae in a large measure to the inclination
of the plane of the Sonthom Tableland.
2. An easterly slope from the Dividing Range.
3. A southerly slope from the Hunter Range.
4. A westerly slope from the Tllawarra Range.
The tributaries of tho Hawkesbury m-e, on the left bank, the Cootiu'idooii
River, Giiinecor Crec/f, Cne's, the ffrose, Colo, and McDonald
Eiver$, and Mangrove Creek; on the right bank, Mulvarre Ponds,
PtuMy's, WingecarrHhee, Naliai, and Nepean Bkers, with the two
atBnent« of the latter, the Cardcau.T and the Cataract.
The Hawkesbury, on account of the extended nature of its basin,
is very liable to heavy and destructive floods. The rainfall on the
several slopes from which its stream is fed, frequently accnmulatos in
the small creeks and gullies, and these flood-waters, rushing suddenly
down, break over the banks and submerge the flata. The low laads
which e.\-tend back from the banks m the middle part of its course,
are of a very rich chai-acter, but in sevei-al portions, both above and
below this area, the soil of the adjacent country is inferior, and ahnost
aseless tor agricultural purposes. The scenery at various spots on the
Hawkesbury is noted for its piccnresqueness. Mount-nins, the rugged
sides of which are covered with all the rich foliage of the Australian
bush, rise on every hand, with steep cliffs at intervals overhanging
the bed of the stream, and affording pniteotion to tlie timid omithorhynchus.
The general surronndiogs of the Upper WaiTagamba are
romantic and beautiful; rapids alternate with limpid sheets of open
water; far up-stream, standing out in bold relief, towers some peak
around the base of which winds the mountain ton'ent; and, save the
noise of the distant fall, the purling of ninning water, with perhaps
the note of the bell-bird heard far away in the glades of some creek,
there is all that stillness necessary to complete our imagination of the
home of fairy and romance. The artist or tourist, who has toiled
up one of the ragged defiles on tbe banks of the Wari'agamba will
long remember ivith pleasure the solemn grandeur of the view that
breaks on his %-ision as he gains the summit. The total length of the
Hawkesbnry is 330 miles, and the area of its basin 8,700 square miles.
Gtorge's Sher.—This stream is unimportant in character, It
empties its watei-s into Botany Bay.
Shoalkaven. — The Shoal haven River rises near the southern
estremity of the Gonrock Range, and, for a considerable part of
its course, flows northerly through the Southern Tableland; taking
abrupt turn to the east, it enters the sea near the base of Mount
Ccolangatta, ii little north of the :i-5th parallel. The country drained,
in its upper parts, is rugged, nod in many places highly auriferous.
It flows, in its descent from the tableland, through deep gorges known
as the Sboalhaven gnllies. These rents in the surface, mdened and
deepened by the eroding and disintegrating effects of the atmosphei
and water are, in most places, inaccessible, and present some of the
wildest scencry to be met with in connection with the eastern rivers.
The country around its lower course spreads out into flats. These arc
alluvial in character, and, for the most part, very fertile. The
surrounding district, in «hich there are numerous farmers occupying
and cultivating the land, is among the most prosperous in thf
colony. Agriculture is the principal employment for a large rural
popolation. The Shoalhaveo River is liable to floods. A.t its natural
entrance to the sea it is obstructed by a very dangerous bar, which
seldom passable for vessels. A canal, which has now widened into
deep channel, and thereby lost its original character, connects it with
the Crookhaven River, a short distance to tho south, through tho
month of which its waters prmcipally find their way to the
is also by means of the latter that ships enter the river,
shoals occur throughout its length. The Shoalhaven River
discovered by >Ir. Bass in December, 17il7, when in a whaleboat, and
with a crew of six meu he sailed from Port ,rackson, and reached
far south as Westem Port, passing through the struit, which has sit
received his name.
Its length is about 2l30 miles, and the country di-ained represents
upcrficial extent of about 8,300 square miles.
Wuxdrawandrian.—This is a small unimportant stream flowing
into St, George's Basin.
Conjoin Creeh—X little to the south of the latter.
Cninhi/ar Creek.—A short distance north from the Pigeon House.
Clyde.—I'his river has its source on the eastern slopes of the
Ciu'rook Billy Range, and on tho southern face of the Pigeon House.
It has a general direction to the south, and eventually flows cast into
Bateman's Bay. The Clyde has a total length of 70 miles, and
drains an area equal to 450 square miles,
Momya or Deim.—The Mornya or Deua takes its rise on tho
Southern Tableland, and for the first part of its course has a northerly
direction ; afterwards it turns towards the south-east and finally to
the east, entering the sea a little to the north of the 36th parallel.
The country in the vicinity of its upper waters is i-ugged and wild in
many ])arts; near the sea the land becomes alluvial, and is of a very
fertile nature, j-ielding large crops when brought under cultivation.
This river has a tot-al length of 80 miles, and drains an area of
I square miles.
rtirois.—The Tui-oss has its source on the eastern slope of the
Manaro Range, and, after following a north-east direction, enters the
Pacific Ocean immediately south of the 36th parallel, forming a large
estuary at its month. In its lower course it waters a territory that is
fertile and well adapted to agricnltuval purposes, Tlie length of the
Tuross is about 60 miles, and the area drained about 600 square miles,
Bega.—The Bega River has thi-ee principal sources, sitnated on
• eastern slopes of the JIanaro and South Coast Ranges, namely—
the Brogn and Bemloka Rivers, and the Tantawanfialo Creek. Plowing
n easterly direction it reaches the sea north of Tathra. A
large proportion of the country on both banks is of a very fine
description; well-grasscd slopes and fertile valleys succeeding each
other, produce numerous views beautiful and homely in character.
The Bega has a total length of about 60 miles, and drains an ai-ea of
about 550 square miles. It is of no importance in regard to navigation,
ships not being able to enter it.
ToHtam?<n.—The Towamba River rises in the South Coast Range,
and flows at first in a sonth-east dii-ection; near Mount Imlay it turns
to the north-east, emptying its waters into Twofold Bay. It is
unimportant in character. The length of its course is about 40 miles,
and the area of the country drained represents about 500 square
miles.
SonTH Stopi.—
The southern watorshed, compared with the eastern or western, is
limited in extent. It owes its formation to the abrupt turn to the
west made by the Hanaro Range, and is bounded on the east by the
South Coast Range. The snow-falls on the Dividing Range, which
bounds it on the north and west, tend to give a permanence to the
streams rising on its slopes, not found in any other portion of the
colony, except in the south part of the western watershed,
Snotoi/ Sitcr.—The main stream of this river takes its rise on the
eastern face of tho Muniong Range, and flows for a considerable
distance in a south-east direction; but, as it approaches the dividing
line between New South Wales and Victoria, it turns abruptly to the
west, and finally, with a southerly course, makes its exit into
Victoria. The country drained, which in many parts is of a very
rugged description, and intersected by steep ridgps, is chiefly of
granite formation ; the soil, genei'ally speaking, is not suitable for
agriculture, but. under a moist atmosphere, and, \vith a plentiful
rainfall, produces good grass, and is occupied for grazing ijui-poses.
The Snowy, which is the only river on the southern slope, drains an
area of 3,360 square miles, and has a total length (including the part
in Victoria) of about 3()0 miles. Its volume is very largely increased
by the numerous tributary streams, which, rising on the slopes of the
South Coast Range, the Manaro and Muniong Ranges, flow into it.
The follo«-iug are among the most importaut :—The Eucumliane,
Craekenhae, Mo^ramha, Tongivro, Mnyengul and Inijcegoodheo from tho
Muniong Range; the Wvllicye, Bohundara, and MacLivighlin from
tho Mnnaro Range; and the Bomlala, Camhalong, Cohimhuoka, and
Mnhnralta from the South Coast Range,
WEST SWI'E.—
The western watershed is much more extensive than cither the
eastern or soutbem; its limits range both north and south of New
South Wales. In many portions the fall i.= very slight, only averaging
about three feet per mile, and, in one pint of the Darling, for a
distance of over 300 miles above Wontworth, amounting only to about
three inches |)er mile. On this account the streams ai'e generally of
a sluggish character. Some of the northern tributaries of the Darling
have their head waters in Queensland, white the streams which join
the Murray on its left bank take their i-iso in Victoria. The u))per
IF.:-
Scenes
JOHN IANDS