Avon River (Wollongong)

The Avon River, a perennial river of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Southern Highlands and Macarthur districts of New South Wales, Australia.

Not to be confused with Avon River (Mid-Coast Council).
For other rivers named Avon, see River Avon.

Avon River
Location
CountryAustralia
StateNew South Wales
RegionSydney Basin (IBRA), Southern Highlands, Macarthur
Local government areasWollongong, Wollondilly
Physical characteristics
SourceIllawarra escarpment
 • locationwest of Calderwood
 • elevation348 m (1,142 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Cordeaux River
 • location
near Wilton
 • elevation
193 m (633 ft)
Length32 km (20 mi)
Basin features
River systemHawkesbury-Nepean catchment
ReservoirLake Avon
[1]

Course

The Avon River rises on the western slopes of the Illawarra escarpment, near Calderwood within the Wollongong local government area and flows generally north, reaching its confluence with the Cordeaux River, south of Wilton. The river descends 155 metres (509 ft) over its 32-kilometre (20 mi) course.[1]

The river is impounded by Lake Avon, the largest of the four reservoirs within the Upper Nepean Scheme that supplies potable water for greater metropolitan Sydney. Located near Bargo, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-west of Sydney,[2] construction of the dam wall on the Avon River commenced in 1921 and was completed in 1927. In 1963, the water supply was diverted to meet the increasing needs of the Illawarra region and now supplies all the Wollongong area.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Map of Avon River, NSW". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  2. "Upper Nepean dams – Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon, Nepean". Visiting dams. Sydney Catchment Authority. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  3. "Avon Dam: Bargo". Sydney.com. Destination New South Wales. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.

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