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Donnelly River (Western Australia) facts for kids

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Donnelly River
Donnellyriver1.jpg
Limestone cliff near the mouth of the river
Country Australia
Physical characteristics
Main source 11.6 kilometres (7 mi) east of Yornup
333 metres (1,093 ft)
River mouth Southern Ocean
sea level
Length 151 kilometres (94 mi)
Basin features
Basin size 1,667 square kilometres (644 sq mi)

The Donnelly River is a river found in the South West part of Western Australia. It's a really important river for the area! Its two main smaller rivers that flow into it are Barlee Brook and Carey Brook.

Most of the Donnelly River flows through special state forest areas. These are like big natural parks. However, about 25 private properties, like farms, are also located along the river. About 20% of the land around the river has been cleared. This land is mostly used for growing grapes (called viticulture), growing other plants (horticulture), dairy farming, raising animals, and for tourism.

River's Story

Who Found It?

The first European person to see the Donnelly River was a naval officer named Lieutenant William Preston. He discovered it in 1831.

How It Got Its Name

The river was named by James Stirling. He was the Governor of Western Australia in the 1830s. Governor Stirling named the river after his friend, Admiral Sir Ross Donnelly. Admiral Donnelly was a friend of Stirling's father-in-law.

Amazing Animals of the River

The Donnelly River is special because it's one of the few places in Western Australia that still has all of the native freshwater fish species that belong to the region.

Native Fish

You can find many cool native freshwater fish here, such as:

Fish Near the Mouth

Closer to where the river meets the ocean, you can find many estuarine fish. These are fish that can live in both fresh and salty water. Some examples are:

Introduced Fish

Some fish have been brought into the river by people. These are called introduced species. They include:

The rainbow trout is the most common introduced fish. People put them into the river so that others can enjoy fishing for them. Between 1999 and 2004, more than 500,000 rainbow trout were added to the river system!

Wonderful Plants of the River

Donnelly River 2
Donnelly River, about 6km from its mouth

The Donnelly River starts in an open forest area. This area is east of Yornup, between Bridgetown and Manjimup. Here, you'll find tall jarrah and marri trees.

Forest Undergrowth

Below these tall trees, you'll see many other plants, such as:

Karri Forests

As the river flows, it goes through a huge area of very tall karri forests. These trees are impressive! In these forests, you might find plants like:

Coastal Plants

Closer to the coast, the types of plants change. This is because the soil becomes swampy or sandy. Here, you'll see plants like:

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