Buchan River

The Buchan River (/ˈbʌkən/ BUK-ən) is a perennial river of the Snowy River catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

This article is about the river. For the town, see Buchan, Victoria. For the caves, see Buchan Caves.

Buchan
Buchan River at Buchan, Victoria, 2006.
Mouth of the Buchan River in Victoria
EtymologyAboriginal: bukkan bukkan or bukkan mungie, meaning "bags made from grass"[1][2]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionAustralian Alps (IBRA), Victorian Alps, East Gippsland
Local government areaShire of East Gippsland
LocalityBuchan
Physical characteristics
Sourcebelow Blue Hill
 • locationSnowy River National Park
 • elevation1,090 m (3,580 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Snowy River
 • location
near Lucas Point
 • coordinates
37°31′S 148°16′E
 • elevation
41 m (135 ft)
Length118 km (73 mi)
Basin features
River systemSnowy River catchment
National parkAlpine NP
[3][4]

Course and features

The Buchan River rises below Blue Hill in a remote alpine wilderness area within the Alpine National Park, and flows generally south through the town of Buchan. The river is joined by the Murrindal River and eight minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Snowy River near Lucas Point in the Shire of East Gippsland. The river descends 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) over its 118-kilometre (73 mi) course.[4]

At Buchan, the river is traversed by Gelantipy Road, and a little further to the east, the Buchan Orbost Road.[4]

Etymology

The name Buchan is thought to be taken from the Aboriginal phrase bukkan bukkan or bukkan mungie, referring to bags made from grass.[1][2]

History

Aboriginal history

The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the upper reaches of the Buchan River are the Australian Aboriginal Bidawal and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples;[5] while in its lower reaches, the Gunaikurnai people identify the land surrounding Buchan as their traditional country.[6]

At Cloggs Cave near Buchan, evidence has been found of Aboriginal occupation in prehistoric times.[2]

European history

Pastoralists first entered the area surrounding the town of Buchan in the late 1830s. Buchan Station, taken up in the 1840s, had a succession of owners. To the north were the Gelantipy and Black Mountain runs. There were small groups of Aboriginals in the area but their numbers declined rapidly after European settlement. In 1861, Rev. John Bulmer inspected land south of Buchan as a possible site for a mission station. When he moved to Lake Tyers, the remaining Aboriginals accompanied him there. Land settlement began in 1870, with the best land along the river quickly taken up. A township was proclaimed in 1873, taking its name from the station. The Victorian Municipal Directory described the district in 1888.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Suggan Buggan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  2. "Buchan, Victoria". Australian places. Monash University. January 1999. Archived from the original on 17 April 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. "Buchan River: 11729". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  4. "Map of Buchan River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  5. "Snowy River National Park". Explore national parks. Parks Victoria. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  6. "Buchan Caves Reserve". Explore national parks. Parks Victoria. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
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