Canals in Australia facts for kids
Australia doesn't have many canals, but there are some interesting ones! Canals are like man-made rivers or channels. They are built for boats to travel on, or to move water for farming. Sometimes they help drain land or prevent floods. Let's explore some of Australia's special canals.
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Canals in New South Wales
Alexandra Canal: A Sydney Waterway
The Alexandra Canal is a special waterway in southern Sydney. It's like a branch of the Cooks River. This canal is about 4 kilometers long. It goes from Alexandria past Sydney Airport. The canal then joins the Cooks River near Tempe. From there, the water flows into Botany Bay. This canal is 60 meters wide, and 80 meters wide at its end. It's one of only two canals in New South Wales that boats can use.
Hawthorne Canal: For Ferries and Drainage
The Hawthorne Canal is another man-made waterway in Sydney. It connects to the Parramatta River. This canal was built starting in 1890. Its main purpose was to help with drainage. It also allowed ferries to travel easily. The Drummoyne – Leichhardt Ferry Company used it for their services.
Berry's Canal: Australia's First Transport Canal
Berry's Canal holds a special record. It was Australia's very first transport canal! In 1822, Alexander Berry sailed his small boat, the Blanche. He traveled 150 kilometers south from Sydney. He wanted to reach the Shoalhaven area. The entrance to the Shoalhaven River was dangerous. So, Berry sailed up the Crookhaven River instead. But a sand spit blocked his way.
Berry and his crew didn't give up. They pulled the Blanche boat over the sand. Then, Hamilton Hume and three men started digging. They used only hand tools to cut a passage. In just 12 days, they finished the canal! It was 191 meters long. This small canal changed everything. Over time, the river made the passage even wider and deeper. Now, it's the main entrance to the Shoalhaven River.
Mulwala Canal: A Giant for Farming
The Mulwala Canal is a huge canal in New South Wales. It's the largest irrigation canal in the whole Southern Hemisphere! This canal starts at Lake Mulwala. It takes water from the Murray River. The water then flows across a large farming area. It reaches the Edward River near Deniliquin.
The canal is an amazing 2880 kilometers long. It can carry 10,000 megalitres of water every day. Each year, it supplies over 1,000,000 megalitres of water. This water helps farms grow crops on 700,000 hectares of land. The canal was built between 1935 and 1943. It provides water for farms and towns. Towns like Berrigan, Finley, Bunnaloo, and Wakool all benefit.
Canals in Queensland
Schulz Canal: Helping with Floods
The Schulz Canal is a man-made waterway in Nundah, Queensland. It flows into Moreton Bay. This canal was built in the 1940s. Its main job was to help prevent floods. It is named after William Schulz, a local leader.
Canals in Tasmania
Denison Canal: A Shortcut for Boats
The Denison Canal is a man-made waterway in Dunalley, Tasmania. It cuts across a narrow piece of land. This land connects the Tasman Peninsula to the rest of Tasmania. The canal was built in 1905. It created a much shorter route for boats. Fishing boats and trading ships could travel faster. They could get between the east coast and Hobart more easily. The canal is named after Governor William Denison. 42°53′24″S 147°48′28″E / 42.890052°S 147.807655°E
Canals in Victoria
Coode Canal: Straightening the Yarra River
The Coode Canal was built between 1886 and 1892. It was designed by Sir John Coode. The Melbourne Harbor Trust built it. The canal's purpose was to make the Yarra River shorter and straighter. This helped ships reach Melbourne's docks more easily.
Sale Canal: Connecting to the Sea
The Sale Canal project started in the 1880s. Sir John Coode also designed this one. It connects the town of Sale to the open sea. It does this by linking to the Thomson River and the Gippsland Lakes. The canal was finished in 1890. A swing bridge was built across it in 1883. There was also a high wharf and a launching ramp. At about 5 kilometers long, it is the longest true canal in Australia.
Coal Canal, West Melbourne: For Coal Barges
The Coal Canal was built in the 1870s and 1880s. It was first part of a project to drain the West Melbourne Swamp. Later, it was made bigger. This allowed coal barges to use it. They would unload imported coal for the North Melbourne Locomotive Depot.
Elwood Canal: Draining Wetlands
The Elwood Canal began construction in May 1889. It was supervised by engineer Carlo Catani. The Elwood area used to be low, wet land. This canal was built to drain the wetlands. This made the area suitable for people to live in. Sixty workers were hired for the project. It cost about £14,000 to build.
Maribyrnong Explosives Magazine Canal: For Safety
The Maribyrnong Explosives Magazine Canal was built between 1875 and 1876. It opened in 1878. This canal was part of a large government site. It was called Jack's Magazine. This place stored all the gunpowder coming into the colony. It was used for both military and mining purposes. Barges would carry explosives from ships. They traveled up the Maribyrnong River. Then, they entered the 400-meter-long canal. Explosives were unloaded at a dock near the magazine walls. A tramway also ran along the canal. Another section went right into the magazine. 37°46′51″S 144°53′46″E / 37.780823°S 144.896171°E
Canals in Western Australia
Burswood Canal: Shortening the Swan River Journey
The Burswood Canal was built in the 1830s. It cut across a bend in the Swan River. This canal was made to shorten the journey on the Swan River. It made travel quicker between Fremantle and Guildford. Both a railway bridge and a road bridge now cross this canal.
