Kowmung River facts for kids

The Kowmung River is a river in New South Wales, Australia. It is also known by its Aboriginal name, Barnalay. This river flows all year round and is part of the larger Hawkesbury-Nepean river system. You can find it in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales.

River's Journey and Features

The Kowmung River starts when two other rivers, the Tuglow and Hollanders rivers, join together. This meeting point is near a place called Tuglow, close to the village of Shooters Hill.

The river then flows for about 74 kilometers (46 miles). Along its way, seven smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into it. The Kowmung River eventually meets and joins the Coxs River west of Mount Cookem. From where it starts to where it ends, the river drops about 816 meters (2,677 feet) in height.

National Parks and Surroundings

A large part of the area where the Kowmung River flows, about 70%, is located inside two important national parks. These are the Blue Mountains National Park and the Kanangra-Boyd National Park.

The land around the river is very rugged. It has steep cliffs and deep, narrow valleys called gorges. Most of this area is covered by eucalyptus forests. In the deepest parts of the ravines, you can also find some rainforests.

Wildlife and Plants

The Kowmung River and its surroundings are home to many different kinds of animals and plants, including some that are endangered.

Animals

The river might be home to the Macquarie perch, which is a type of fish that is threatened. In the areas around the river, you might find endangered animals like the brush-tailed rock wallaby, the stuttering frog, and the south-eastern petaltail, which is a large type of dragonfly.

Plants

There are also some rare and endangered plants found here. These include Hakea dohertyi, Trachymene saniculifolia, and Diuris aequalis, which is a type of orchid.

What's in a Name?

The name "Kowmung" comes from an Aboriginal word, gummung. This word means "sore eyes." It's thought that this name might refer to a plant called Centipeda cunninghamii, which grew along the riverbanks. Local Aboriginal people used this plant to treat an eye condition called trachoma.

In 1833, a surveyor named H.C. White wrote down the name Kowmung. However, the Gandangara people, who lived in the area, called the river Barnalay in other parts of its course.

Early Explorers

In 1802, an explorer named Francis Barrallier tried to cross the Blue Mountains. He reached the Kowmung River and followed it for a while before he had to turn back because he ran out of supplies.

Later, in 1806, another explorer named George Caley followed Barrallier's path. When he reached the river, he gave it a new name: the Dryander.