Leigh River (Victoria)

The Leigh River (or Waywatcurtan in the indigenous language) is a perennial river of the Corangamite catchment, located in the Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Victoria.

Leigh
The Leigh River at Inverleigh. The Hamilton Highway bridge is visible in the background.
Location of the Leigh River mouth in Victoria
EtymologyAboriginal Wathaurong: Waywatcurtan;[1][2]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionCentral Highlands
Physical characteristics
SourceMount Mercer
 • locationCambrian Hill
 • coordinates37°37′48″S 143°49′54″E
 • elevation325 m (1,066 ft)
Source confluenceYarrowee River
MouthBarwon River
 • location
near Inverleigh
 • coordinates
38°06′31″S 144°03′48″E
 • elevation
60 m (200 ft)
Length61 km (38 mi)
Basin features
River systemCorangamite catchment
Tributaries 
 • leftWilson Creek (Victoria), Williamson Creek, Cargerie Creek
[3][4]

Location and features

The Leigh River is a major tributary and catchment of the Barwon River. Fed by the Yarrowee River that rises near Ballarat, the Yarrowee reaches its confluence to form the Leigh in the vicinity of Cambrian Hill and Golden Plains Shire.[5] The Leigh River rises below Mount Mercer and flows generally south, joined by three minor tributaries before reaching its confluence with the Barwon River, southeast of the central business district of Inverleigh. The river descends 265 metres (869 ft) over its 61-kilometre (38 mi) course.[4][6]

Communities and bridge crossings along the river

There are several crossings over the Leigh River, including road, rail and pedestrian. Some additional roads allow passage through shallow sections of the river when the water levels are low.

Location Bridge name Comments/use Image
DereelLeigh Gorge Bridge (formerly Leigh Grand Junction Mine bridge)[7]Dereel/Elaine Road
ShelfordTown BridgeBannockburn/Skipton Road
InverleighTwo BridgesInverleigh/Teesdale Road
Federation BridgePedestrian suspension
Hamilton Highway
Standard gauge Melbourne/Adelaide railway

Etymology

The Wathaurong Indigenous Australian people named the river Waywatcurtan.[1][2]

It is believed that the name Leigh River was given by the surveyor J.H. Wedge who arrived in 1835, probably naming the river after his Tasmanian farm 'Leighlands'.[8]

See also

References
  1. Native names of hills, rivers, lakes, and other natural features in Victoria (PDF). Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  2. "Leigh River: Historical Information". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. "Leigh River: 4522". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. "Map of Leigh River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. Leigh River sediment sourcing and transport Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
  6. "Yarrowee River Sub-catchment Master Plans" (PDF). Yarrowee River Plan and the Leigh Catchment Strategy (PDF). City of Ballarat. April 2003. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  7. Ballarat Gold Field [cartographic material] : longitudinal section showing the fall of the surface and bed rock respectively from no. 1 shaft mine of the Band and Albion Consols Co. to Yarrowee River at the Leigh Grand Junction bridge, undated, NSW Government Publications.
  8. Lonsdale, Joan "Gateway to the West", Inverleigh Progress Association, 1978
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