Barwon River (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barwon |
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Barwon River at Collarenebri.
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 Location of Barwon River mouth in New South Wales
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| Other name(s) | Upper Darling River |
| Country | Australia |
| States | Queensland, New South Wales |
| Region | South West Queensland, North West Slopes, Orana |
| Towns | Mungindi, Collarenebri, Brewarrina, |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Macintyre River north of Mungindi, Southern Downs, Queensland 196 m (643 ft) |
| 2nd source | Weir River |
| River mouth | confluence with the Culgoa River to form the Darling River east of Bourke, Orana region 110 m (360 ft) 29°57′29″S 146°18′28″E / 29.95806°S 146.30778°E |
| Length | 700 km (430 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Murray–Darling basin |
| Tributaries |
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The Barwon River is a long river in Australia. It flows through the north-west parts of New South Wales. It is a very important part of the huge Murray–Darling basin river system.
The name "Barwon" comes from words used by Aboriginal people. These words, barwum or bawon, mean "great, wide, awful river of muddy water." Another name, baawan, is used by the Ngiyambaa people for both the Barwon and Darling Rivers. The history and way of life for local Aboriginal people are closely connected to the Barwon River.
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Where the Barwon River Flows
The Barwon River starts when two other rivers, the Macintyre River and Weir River, join together. This happens north of Mungindi in Queensland. From there, the Barwon River flows generally south and then west.
Many smaller rivers, called tributaries, flow into the Barwon River. Some of the main ones are the Boomi, Moonie, Gwydir, Mehi, Namoi, Macquarie, Bokhara, and Bogan rivers. When there are big floods, water from the Narran Lakes also flows into the Barwon.
The Barwon River eventually meets the Culgoa River. When these two rivers join, they form the beginning of the famous Darling River. This meeting point is between the towns of Brewarrina and Bourke.
Towns Along the River
Several towns are located along the Barwon River. As you travel from where the river starts towards where it joins the Darling River, you would pass through:
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority helps manage the water in the Barwon River. The Barwon and Darling rivers together cover about 13% of the entire Murray-Darling Basin. Sometimes, during dry periods, the river can get very low. In December 2018, during a drought, the Barwon River at Walgett stopped flowing. It became just a series of still pools of water.
River History
The Barwon River has a rich history, especially for Aboriginal people and early European explorers.
Aboriginal History
Aboriginal people from six different language groups lived around the Barwon River wetlands. These groups included the Ngemba, Baranbinja, Murrawarri, Yuwaalaraay, Weilwan, and Kamilaroi peoples. They used the wetlands for hunting, fishing, and gathering food. The river was also very important for their culture.
Aboriginal people built amazing fish traps in the Barwon River at Brewarrina. These traps are made of rocks placed in the riverbed. They form V-shaped or diamond-shaped channels to catch fish. These Brewarrina fish traps are a very old and well-preserved example of this kind of site. They are so important that they are now listed on the Australian National Heritage List. They are still important to Aboriginal people today and are even used.
European History
In 1846, Roderick Mitchell, whose father was the explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell, discovered something important. He proved that the Barwon River and the MacIntyre River were actually the same river, just called by different names.
Later, from 1880 to 1912, steamboats regularly traveled on the river. They went from Walgett all the way to Bourke. During big floods in 1879, 1886, and 1890, these steamboats could even go as far as Collarenebri and Mungindi.
Important bridges were also built over the Barwon River. The Brewarrina Lift Bridge was built in 1888. It crosses the river on the Kamilaroi Highway. This bridge is considered very important to the state's history. Another bridge, the Boonanga bridge, was finished in 1928 near Boomi. It's an early example of a special type of timber bridge.
