Coliban River

The Coliban River, an inland perennial river of the north–central catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Coliban River rise on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and descend to flow north into the Campaspe River with the impounded Lake Eppalock.

Not to be confused with Little Coliban River.

Coliban
Trentham Falls, in the upper reaches of the Coliban River
Location of the Coliban River mouth in Victoria
Native nameTeeranyap, Pe-er, Dindelong yaluk[1][2]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionRiverina bioregion (IBRA), Central Highlands
Local government areasMoorabool, Hepburn, Mount Alexander, City of Greater Bendigo
TownsTrentham, Malmsbury, Metcalfe, Redesdale, Mintaro
Physical characteristics
SourceGreat Dividing Range
 • locationbelow Little Hampton
 • coordinates37°25′13″S 144°28′38″E
 • elevation701 m (2,300 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Campaspe River
 • location
Lake Eppalock
 • coordinates
36°55′39.5″S 144°32′49.8″E
 • elevation
183 m (600 ft)
Length89 km (55 mi)
Discharge 
 • locationEchuca
Basin features
River systemVictorian north–central catchment,
Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftKangaroo Creek, Myrtle Creek
 • rightLittle Coliban River
WaterfallsTrentham Falls
[3]

The river is a major water supply source for towns and cities in the lower Central Highlands region.

Location and features

The river rises below Little Hampton near Lyonville in the Great Dividing Range and flows generally north, descending 33 metres (108 ft) over the Trentham Falls, and continuing to flow northward to the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs. Subsequently it flows through Malmsbury, Metcalfe, Redesdale and Mintaro, and finally reaches its confluence with the Campaspe River within Lake Eppalock.[4] The river descends 518 metres (1,699 ft) over its 89-kilometre (55 mi) course.[3]

Gold was found in the river in 1858, and water from the river was used to supply the goldfields cities of Bendigo and Castlemaine. As the population of those cities grew a water supply system consisting of 70 kilometres (43 mi) of tunnels and aqueducts was constructed. Over time, the water supply was extended to Kyneton, as well as many other smaller towns in the region. Today, the system supplies drinking water to a population exceeding 200,000.[4] Coliban Water manages the three major water supply reservoirs, which are part of the Eppalock Proclaimed Water Supply Catchment.[5]

Fauna and flora

The river is home to the platypus as well as eight native fish species including the Macquarie perch. Four of the fish species are endangered and the trout cod is regarded as critically endangered in the river, and may no longer be present. Indigenous vegetation in the area includes the black gum (Eucalyptus aggregata) which, though once plentiful in the area, is now rare due to vegetation clearance over many years.[4]

Etymology

In the indigenous Djadjawurrung language, the name for the river is Teeranyap, with no clearly defined meaning. In the Daungwurrung and Djadjawurrung languages, the names for the river is Pe-er, with no clearly defined meaning; and indelong yaluk, with yaluk meaning "river".[1][2]

See also

References
  1. "Coliban River (entry 615046)". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  2. Clark, Ian; Heydon, Toby (2011). "Coliban River: Traditional Names". Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.
  3. "Map of Coliban River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  4. "Your River: The Coliban - River Recovery". Greening Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  5. "Coliban Water". Coliban Water. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
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