Avon River (Gippsland, Victoria)
Encyclopedia
The Avon River is located in Gippsland
, Victoria, Australia
. Along with the Latrobe River
and Thomson Rivers, it flows into Lake Wellington, the western most of the Gippsland Lakes
. The Avon River rises on the slopes of Mount Wellington (altitude 1634m) in the eastern highlands and flows south to Lake Wellington. The major tributaries of the Avon River include Valencia Creek, Freestone Creek and the Perry River
which joins just before Lake Wellington.
The river was named by Angus McMillan
in 1839.
Considerable demand is placed on the Latrobe and Thomson Rivers for supply of Melbourne
’s water, industrial use in Australia’s largest pulp and paper mill and the power industry in the Latrobe Valley
, and for irrigation. The Avon escapes any major impoundment or diversion.
The upper reaches are contained in the rugged, heavily forested and largely inaccessible, Avon Wilderness Park
. The river passes through forested hillsides, then cleared agricultural land. Around Stratford
the river has dug a wide channel up to 500 metres across, composed mainly of sand banks and pebble banks. The river then forms a boundary for the Macallister Irrigation District, with Nuntin Creek joining 10km below Stratford contributing a large amount of irrigation drainage to the river.
The river was important to the local Gunai
/Kurnai indigenous people, highlighted by Knob Reserve, 3 km south of Stratford, being part of the Gunai/Kurnai Bataluk Cultural Trail. The trail highlights the places of cultural significance to the first inhabitants across East Gippsland.
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
, Victoria, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Along with the Latrobe River
Latrobe River
The La Trobe River is a river in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It begins in the area between Powelltown and Noojee where it shares a watershed with the Little Yarra River, a tributary of the Yarra River, and has a number of tributaries joining it from the southern slopes of the Baw Baw plateau,...
and Thomson Rivers, it flows into Lake Wellington, the western most of the Gippsland Lakes
Gippsland Lakes
The Gippsland Lakes are a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons in east Gippsland, Victoria, Australia covering an area of about 600 km2. The largest of the lakes are Lake Wellington , Lake King and Lake Victoria. They are fed by the Avon, Thomson, Latrobe, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo...
. The Avon River rises on the slopes of Mount Wellington (altitude 1634m) in the eastern highlands and flows south to Lake Wellington. The major tributaries of the Avon River include Valencia Creek, Freestone Creek and the Perry River
Perry River (Victoria)
The Perry River is a river of Gippsland in southeastern Victoria, Australia.The river was named by Count Strzelecki after Captain Perryof the NSW Survey Department in 1840.-References:...
which joins just before Lake Wellington.
The river was named by Angus McMillan
Angus McMillan
Angus McMillan , was an explorer and pioneer pastoralist in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. He is also known for being an instigator of many of the massacres against the Aboriginal peoples in the Gippsland region.-Early life:...
in 1839.
Considerable demand is placed on the Latrobe and Thomson Rivers for supply of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
’s water, industrial use in Australia’s largest pulp and paper mill and the power industry in the Latrobe Valley
Latrobe Valley
The Latrobe Valley is an inland geographical region and urban area of Gippsland in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is east of the City Of Melbourne and nestled between the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and the Great Dividing Range to the north – with the highest peak to the north of the...
, and for irrigation. The Avon escapes any major impoundment or diversion.
The upper reaches are contained in the rugged, heavily forested and largely inaccessible, Avon Wilderness Park
Avon Wilderness Park
Avon Wilderness Park is a completely undeveloped area of land in the southern part of Victoria's Alps, contiguous with the southern border of the Alpine National Park. It was declared in 1987 and protects of mountain ash and sub-alpine woodlands. Although there are no walking or vehicle tracks...
. The river passes through forested hillsides, then cleared agricultural land. Around Stratford
Stratford, Victoria
Stratford is a town on the Avon River in Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne on the Princes Highway in Shire of Wellington. At the 2006 census, Stratford had a population of 1950. The town services the local regional community and travellers on the Princes Highway. Stratford's principal...
the river has dug a wide channel up to 500 metres across, composed mainly of sand banks and pebble banks. The river then forms a boundary for the Macallister Irrigation District, with Nuntin Creek joining 10km below Stratford contributing a large amount of irrigation drainage to the river.
The river was important to the local Gunai
Gunai
The Gunai or Kurnai is an Indigenous Australian nation of south-east Australia whose territory occupied most of present-day Gippsland and much of the southern slopes of the Victorian Alps. The nation was not on friendly terms with the neighbouring Wurundjeri and Bunurong nations...
/Kurnai indigenous people, highlighted by Knob Reserve, 3 km south of Stratford, being part of the Gunai/Kurnai Bataluk Cultural Trail. The trail highlights the places of cultural significance to the first inhabitants across East Gippsland.