Alice River (Barcoo River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alice River |
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Alice River, near the Landsborough Highway
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Map of the Lake Eyre Basin showing Barcoo River
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Great Dividing Range east of Aramac, Central Queensland |
| River mouth | confluence with the Barcoo River north-east of Isisford 225 m (738 ft) |
| Length | 303 km (188 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Barcoo River, Lake Eyre basin |
The Alice River is a river located in central Queensland, Australia. It starts high up on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range mountains. The river flows southwest, cutting through the area known as the Shire of Barcaldine.
It eventually meets the Barcoo River near Isisford. The town of Barcaldine is actually built right on the Alice River. Smaller streams like Jordan Creek and Lagoon Creek flow into the Alice River.
The Alice River is often dry for much of the year. It usually only has water after the big summer rains. The Barcoo River, which the Alice River joins, marks the edge of outback Australia. West of the Barcoo, there are very few towns or people.
The waters from the Alice and Barcoo Rivers flow inland towards Lake Eyre in Central Australia. This is different from rivers further east, which flow into the Murray-Darling Basin and reach the sea in South Australia.
River History and Discovery
The land around the Alice River has a long history. The traditional owners of this area are the Iningai peoples. Their language, also called Iningai, was spoken across a wide region. This included places like Longreach, Barcaldine, Muttaburra, and Aramac.
European Exploration
In 1846, an explorer named Thomas Mitchell was the first European to see both the Barcoo and Alice Rivers. Mitchell was the one who gave the Alice River its name. This name was then used for the surrounding pastoral district. It even gave its name to a type of grass, called Mitchell grass, that grows there.
Early Settlements
In October 1863, a group of people led by Donald Cameron and his son John, along with James and William Crombie, arrived. They brought sheep all the way from the New England area of New South Wales. They let their sheep graze along about 40 miles of the Alice River. They named their new property "Barcaldine" after a family farm they had in Scotland.
Major Floods
The Alice River, despite often being dry, can experience big floods. In 1891, there was a record flood that stopped all travel for a whole week. Later, on March 20, 1910, the Alice River flooded again. This time, it covered all the low-lying areas and blocked the railway line.
