Rufus River, a watercourse of the Murray catchment and part of the Murray–Darling basin, is located in south western New South Wales, Australia.

Rufus River
A section of the Rufus River between Lake Victoria and the Murray River, near the Lake Victoria outlet regulator
Etymology	In honour of George Macleay, who had red hair[1]
Location
Country	Australia
State	New South Wales
Region	IBRA: Riverina
District	Far West
Municipality	Wentworth
Physical characteristics
Source	Lake Victoria
Mouth	confluence with the Murray River
• location	at Devils Elbow, near Rufus
Length	5 km (3.1 mi)
Basin features
River system	Murray River, Murray–Darling basin

The river leaves Lake Victoria, flowing generally west and then south-west, before reaching its confluence with the Murray River, at Lock 7, near Rufus.

Rufus River was visited by European explorer, Charles Sturt, in 1830, and named after his red-haired (or rufus) travelling companion, George Macleay.

A number of conflicts between European and Aboriginal people in 1841 led to the Rufus River massacre.