Brisbane Water facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brisbane Water |
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| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Central Coast |
| Municipality | Central Coast Council |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Narara Creek Gosford 33°26′00″S 151°19′39″E / 33.43333°S 151.32750°E |
| 2nd source | Coorumbine Creek East Gosford |
| River mouth | Broken Bay Wagstaffe Point – Ettalong Beach 33°31′25″S 151°20′5″E / 33.52361°S 151.33472°E |
| Length | 17.72 km (11.01 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 165 km2 (64 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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Brisbane Water is a beautiful water area in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It's a type of estuary, which is where a river meets the sea. This means it has a mix of fresh and salty water.
Brisbane Water starts where two creeks, Narara and Coorumbine, meet near Gosford. From there, it flows south for about 18 kilometres (11 mi) until it reaches Broken Bay. This bay is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the Tasman Sea.
Many towns and suburbs are located around Brisbane Water. Some of these include Gosford, Ettalong Beach, and Woy Woy. You can also find several islands within Brisbane Water, like St Huberts Island and Pelican Island. Nearby are two amazing places: Brisbane Water National Park to the west and Bouddi National Park to the east.
The entire area that drains water into Brisbane Water is called its catchment. This area covers about 165 square kilometres (64 sq mi).
For thousands of years, the Australian Aboriginal peoples, especially the Darkinjung and Kuringgai tribes, lived near Brisbane Water. They used the water and land for important cultural activities. The name "Brisbane Water" was given in 1825 to honor Sir Thomas Brisbane, who was a Governor of New South Wales.
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Discovering Brisbane Water's Past
Brisbane Water has a rich history, especially for the Darkinjung and Kuringgai Aboriginal peoples. They have lived here for a very long time. Special places for Aboriginal people, like the Daleys Point area, are listed on the Register of the National Estate. Early European explorers were helped by a Kuringgai leader named Bungaree. He even helped explorers like Matthew Flinders sail around Australia.
How People Traveled on the Water
In the 1900s, people used ferries to get around Brisbane Water. These ferries connected different towns. There was even a ferry that helped an orphanage that was hard to reach otherwise. Some ferries carried farm goods. The last regular ferry services between the towns stopped in 1971. Today, only one ferry service still runs. It connects communities like Empire Bay, Davistown, Saratoga, and Woy Woy.
Protecting Rileys Island
In 1973, people living on Rileys Island wanted to protect their home. A company planned to remove all the native plants to build new things. The local residents asked for a "green ban." This is when people protest to stop construction that would harm the environment. Their efforts helped save the natural beauty of the island.
Nature and Wildlife of Brisbane Water
Brisbane Water is known for its stunning scenery. It has beautiful natural areas and amazing views of the water from many spots. You can see beaches, small bays, and inlets. In the background, there are hills covered in bushland, creating a lovely picture. Many places allow the public to enjoy these views.
Water Depth and Tides
Brisbane Water is mostly shallow, with an average depth of about 5 metres (16 ft). Sometimes it can be as shallow as 3 metres (9.8 ft). The tide usually changes the water level by about ±0.4 metres (1 ft 4 in). There's a narrow spot called The Rip near Ettalong Beach. Here, the water moves very fast with the tides.
The Important Oyster Industry
The oyster industry is a big part of the local economy. In 2007–2008, people harvested about 250,000 dozen Sydney rock oysters from Brisbane Water. This was worth about A$1.3 million! It showed how important Brisbane Water is for oyster farming in New South Wales.
Home to Many Birds
Brisbane Water is a fantastic place for birds. In 2009, over 110 different bird species were seen here. This includes many vulnerable and endangered animal species, and also rare plant species. A large part of Brisbane Water, about 2,277 hectares (5,630 acres), is recognized as an important bird area. This is because it's home to special birds like the bush stone-curlew. It also sometimes hosts endangered regent honeyeaters and swift parrots in autumn and winter. These birds visit when the swamp mahogany trees are flowering.
