Hill River (South Australia) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hill
An upstream view of the Hill River
Location of the river mouth in South Australia
Country	Australia
State	South Australia
Region	Mid North
Physical characteristics
Main source	near Penwortham 341 m (1,119 ft)
River mouth	confluence with the Broughton River 296 m (971 ft) 33°31′39″S 138°37′34″E / 33.5274°S 138.626110°E / -33.5274; 138.626110
Length	37 km (23 mi)
Basin features
River system	Broughton River
Basin size	230 km2 (89 sq mi)
Waterhole	Beetaloo Reservoir

The Hill River is a river in the Mid North region of South Australia. It is an ephemeral river, which means it doesn't always have water flowing in it. Sometimes it can be dry, and other times it flows strongly after rain.

The Hill River's Path and Features

The Hill River starts about 3 kilometers east of Penwortham. It then flows north for about 37 kilometers. The Hill River flows next to the Hutt River, about 3 kilometers to its west.

Near Spalding, the Hill River joins the Broughton River. The Hutt River also joins the Broughton River around the same area.

The Hill River collects water from an area of 230 square kilometers. Water flows in the river only sometimes, usually after winter rains or strong thunderstorms. The average amount of water flowing in the river between 2000 and 2004 was 2568 megaliters each year. Most of the water comes from the Camels Hump Range and also from the Stony Range. Slab Hut Creek is one of the important smaller streams that flow into the Hill River. In some places, removing native plants has caused the riverbanks to erode and become steep. The river also gives its name to the nearby area called Hill River.

History of the Hill River's Name

For over 100 years, people were confused about when the Hill River was discovered by Europeans and how it got its name. Some incorrect sources said it was found by a "William" Hill in 1838 and named after Rowland Hill, who worked for the South Australian Colonization Commission.

However, Edward John Eyre, a famous explorer, said he discovered the river in 1839. He named it after another explorer, John Hill. Edward John Eyre said he named it after John Hill because John Hill had discovered the nearby Hutt River. John Hill was the first European to explore the Clare Valley area. He found and named several important rivers in South Australia, including the Hutt River and the Wakefield River.

The mystery of the river's name was finally solved in 2015. A book called John Hill: South Australia's Discoverer of Rivers confirmed the truth. It clearly stated that Edward John Eyre discovered the Hill River on June 5, 1839. He named it after John Hill, the explorer who first explored the Clare Valley.