Billabong Creek

Summary

The Billabong Creek, a partly perennial stream[1] of the Murray River catchment within the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia.

Billabong
Moulamein[1]
Billabong Creek at Moulamein
Billabong Creek watershed (Interactive map)
Billabong Creek is located in New South Wales
Billabong Creek
Location of the Billabong Creek mouth in New South Wales
EtymologyAboriginal: an effluent from a river, sometimes separated from it, sometimes being joined again at time of flood.[1][2]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateNew South Wales
RegionRiverina (IBRA)
LGAFederation Council
TownsMorven, Culcairn, Walbundrie, Rand, Jerilderie, Conargo, Wanganella, Moulamein
Physical characteristics
Source confluenceYarra Yarra Creek and
Little Billabong Creek
 • locationnear Holbrook
 • elevation322 m (1,056 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Edward River
 • location
Moulamein
 • coordinates
35°5′32″S 144°2′0″E / 35.09222°S 144.03333°E / -35.09222; 144.03333
 • elevation
70 m (230 ft)
Length320 km (200 mi)
Basin size791 km2 (305 sq mi)
Basin features
River systemMurray catchment,
Murray-Darling basin
[3][4]

At 320 kilometres (200 mi) (with some estimates ranging up to 596 kilometres (370 mi)[4]), Billabong Creek is believed to be the longest creek in the world.[3]

Course and features edit

Formed by the confluence of the Yarra Yarra Creek and Little Billabong Creek, Billabong Creek rises on the Great Dividing Range, north of Holbrook, and flows generally west, northwest, and west, joined by sixteen minor tributaries before reaching its confluence with the Edward River, at Moulamein. The creek descends 252 metres (827 ft)[4] over its 320-kilometre (200 mi) course.

From source to mouth, the creek passes through the towns of Morven, Culcairn, Walbundrie, Rand, Jerilderie, Conargo, Wanganella, and Moulamein.

The creek has a catchment area of 791 square kilometres (305 sq mi) and is the main present drainage line between the Murray and the Murrumbidgee rivers.[5] Alluvial deposits from the system fill a long narrow paleovalley that extends for about 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Garryowen (near Holbrook) to Walla Walla.

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Billabong Creek". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2013.  
  2. ^ Reed, A. W. (1973). Place names of Australia. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Reed Books. p. 31. ISBN 0-589-50128-3.
  3. ^ a b "Billabong Creek Salt Interception Scheme". NSW Department of Primary Industries: Office of Water. 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Map of Billabong Creek, NSW". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Water Resources Overview – New South Wales". ANRA. Government of Australia. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2010.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Billabong Creek at Wikimedia Commons
  • "Murray River catchment (NSW)" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
  • Map of the Billabong Creek NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group