Nicholson River (Victoria)

The Nicholson River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.[9]

This article is about the watercourse in Victoria. For the watercourse of the same name in Queensland, see Nicholson River (Queensland). For the watercourse of the same name in Western Australia, see Nicholson River (Western Australia).

Nicholson
Looking south along the river from the East Gippsland Rail Trail trestle bridge at Nicholson.
Location of the Nicholson River mouth in Victoria
EtymologyIn honour of Charles Nicholson[1]
Native nameYowen-burrun,[2] Dart'yung,[3][4]
Geremoot,[5] Ngarrak walang,[6]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionSouth East Corner (IBRA), East Gippsland
Local government areaShire of East Gippsland
TownsNicholson
Physical characteristics
SourceAngora Range, Great Dividing Range
 • locationbelow Marthavale
 • coordinates37°26′43″S 147°31′24″E
 • elevation440 m (1,440 ft)
MouthLake King to form confluence with the Mitchell River
 • location
near Nicholson
 • coordinates
37°50′53″S 147°43′54″E
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length83 km (52 mi)
Basin features
River systemMitchell River catchment
Tributaries 
 • leftBarmouth Creek, Navigation Creek, Nicholson Creek
 • rightBlack Snake Creek, Yahoo Creek, Store Creek
[7][8]

Course and features

The Nicholson River rises below the Angora Range in the lower reaches of the Victorian Alps within the Great Dividing Range, near the small settlement of Marthavale, west of Ensay.[10] The river flows generally southeast passing through the small town of Nicholson before entering Lake King, one of the main lakes in the extensive Gippsland Lakes system.[9] Within the lake, the Nicholson River forms its confluence with the Mitchell River, which joins with the Tambo River; with the Mitchell River draining into Bass Strait southwest of Lakes Entrance, in the Shire of East Gippsland. The river descends 440 metres (1,440 ft) over its 83-kilometre (52 mi) course.[8][11]

The river is impounded by the Nicholson River Dam, that forms a water reservoir used for the supply of town water to Lakes Entrance, until 1995.[12]

In its lower reaches, the river is traversed by the Great Alpine Road, the Princes Highway, and the East Gippsland Rail Trail,[8] a shared purpose rail trail that was formerly the part of the Orbost railway line.

Etymology

There are a number of Australian Aboriginal names for the river including, from the Brabralung language Yowen-burrun[2] and Dart'yung,[3] both meaning "root of water plant";[4] and Geremoot, with no clearly defined meaning;[5] and in the Tatungalung language, Ngarrak walang, meaning "back-stone".[6]

The current name of the river in drawn from the early colonial explorer and pastoralist, Angus McMillan, who named the river in 1839 in honour of Charles Nicholson, who represented the Port Phillip District on the NSW Legislative Council and was later Colonial Secretary.[1]

See also
  • Looking north to the rail trail trestle bridge across the river at Nicholson.

References
  1. Daley, Charles (1960). The Story of Gippsland. Melbourne: Whitcombe and Tombs. p. 213., cited in Bird, Eric (12 October 2006). "Place Names on the Coast of Victoria" (PDF). The Australian National Placename Survey (ANPS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  2. "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Yowen-burrun". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Dart'yung". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  4. "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Dart'yung". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  5. "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Geremoot". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  6. "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Ngarrak walang". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  7. "Nicholson River: 22494". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  8. "Map of Nicholson River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  9. Vicroads Country Street Directory of Victoria (4 ed.). Noble Park, Victoria: Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. 2000. ISSN 1329-5284.
  10. 8423 Omeo, Victoria, Topographic Map. National Topographic Map Series (1 ed.). Commonwealth of Australia. 1982.
  11. "Nicholson / Tambo Catchments" (PDF). Official Website. East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  12. "Nicholson River Dam decommissioning mooted". ABC News. Australia. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
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