Big River (Victoria)
Encyclopedia
The Big River is a river of Gippsland
in eastern Victoria
, Australia
. It flows from the northern slopes of Falls Creek
in the Australian Alps
, joining with the Cobungra River
near Anglers Rest
to form the Mitta Mitta River
.
at Falls Creek
, on the northern slopes of Spion Kopje (1837 m (6,027 ft)) in the Alpine National Park
.
The river flows north off Spion Kopje, then east in the valley between Spion Kopje and Victoria's highest peak, Mount Bogong
(1986 m (6,516 ft)), separating Mount Bogong itself from the Bogong High Plains
. The river then flows south-southeast, forming the eastern edge of the national park, before turning southward near the Omeo Highway
crossing around Glen Valley, 16 km north of Anglers Rest
.
The Omeo Highway then closely follows the course of the Big River until the point where the Bundara River enters it, about 2 km north of Anglers Rest. Shortly downstream from this, near Anglers Rest, the Big River confluences with the Cobungra River
, with the two rivers becoming the Mitta Mitta River
, itself a tributary of the Murray River
.
The main tributaries flow off the northern slopes of Spion Kopje, the southern slopes of Mount Bogong, the north, east, and west slopes of Mount Nelse (1882 m (6,175 ft)) and Mount Nelse North (1885 m (6,184 ft)), the eastern slopes of Mount Cope (1837 m (6,027 ft)), and the western slopes of Mount Wills (1750 m (5,741 ft)) and The Knocker (1506 m (4,941 ft)).
and livestock
damage to river banks, the aquatic habitat
is generally very good. The upper Big River above the Glen Valley is classified as a "Representative River of East Victorian dissected uplands".
In early 2003, large areas of forest around the Big River and its catchments were severely impacted by the massive Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires
. These fires burnt through hundreds of square kilometres of the area's bushland
for close to two months. The damage resulting from the fires impacted river health for some time after the fires.
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...
in eastern Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, 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...
. It flows from the northern slopes of Falls Creek
Falls Creek, Victoria
Falls Creek is a ski-in, ski-out ski resort in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located about 350 kilometres by road from Melbourne in the Alpine National Park, with the nearest town Mount Beauty, approximately 30 kilometres away. The resort lies between an altitude of 1,210 and 1,830...
in the Australian Alps
Australian Alps
The Australian Alps are the highest mountain ranges of mainland Australia. They are located in southeastern Australia and straddle the Australian Capital Territory, south-eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria...
, joining with the Cobungra River
Cobungra River
The Cobungra River is a river of Gippsland in eastern Victoria, Australia.The Cobungra River rises below the slopes of the ski resort at Mount Hotham and Mount Loch...
near Anglers Rest
Anglers Rest, Victoria
Anglers Rest is a locality in Victoria, Australia. It is on the Omeo Highway, north of Omeo in the Shire of East Gippsland, almost totally surrounded by the Alpine National Park...
to form the Mitta Mitta River
Mitta Mitta River
The Mitta Mitta River is a major tributary of the Murray River in Australia and the source of approximately 40% of the Murray's flow.The river's headwaters include Victoria's highest mountain, Mount Bogong, with the Mitta Mitta itself forming at the confluence of the Cobungra River and the Big...
.
Course
The Big River rises below the ski resortSki resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
at Falls Creek
Falls Creek, Victoria
Falls Creek is a ski-in, ski-out ski resort in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located about 350 kilometres by road from Melbourne in the Alpine National Park, with the nearest town Mount Beauty, approximately 30 kilometres away. The resort lies between an altitude of 1,210 and 1,830...
, on the northern slopes of Spion Kopje (1837 m (6,027 ft)) in the Alpine National Park
Alpine National Park
The Alpine National Park is a national park in Victoria , northeast of Melbourne. It covers much of the higher areas of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, including Victoria's highest point, Mount Bogong and the associated subalpine woodland and grassland of the Bogong High Plains...
.
The river flows north off Spion Kopje, then east in the valley between Spion Kopje and Victoria's highest peak, Mount Bogong
Mount Bogong
Mount Bogong , located in the Alpine National Park, is the highest mountain in Victoria, Australia. The Big River separates the massif of the mountain from the Bogong High Plains to the south. "Bogong" in the local Aboriginal language means bigfella...
(1986 m (6,516 ft)), separating Mount Bogong itself from the Bogong High Plains
Bogong High Plains
The Bogong High Plains are a section of the Alpine National Park in the Australian state of Victoria and are situated south of Mount Bogong. This area forms part of Australia's Great Dividing Range and in winter is one of the largest snow covered areas in the country. It can be easily accessed from...
. The river then flows south-southeast, forming the eastern edge of the national park, before turning southward near the Omeo Highway
Omeo Highway
The Omeo Highway is a 157 kilometre road in eastern Victoria, Australia, connecting north-east Victoria to Gippsland over parts of the Victorian Alps....
crossing around Glen Valley, 16 km north of Anglers Rest
Anglers Rest, Victoria
Anglers Rest is a locality in Victoria, Australia. It is on the Omeo Highway, north of Omeo in the Shire of East Gippsland, almost totally surrounded by the Alpine National Park...
.
The Omeo Highway then closely follows the course of the Big River until the point where the Bundara River enters it, about 2 km north of Anglers Rest. Shortly downstream from this, near Anglers Rest, the Big River confluences with the Cobungra River
Cobungra River
The Cobungra River is a river of Gippsland in eastern Victoria, Australia.The Cobungra River rises below the slopes of the ski resort at Mount Hotham and Mount Loch...
, with the two rivers becoming the Mitta Mitta River
Mitta Mitta River
The Mitta Mitta River is a major tributary of the Murray River in Australia and the source of approximately 40% of the Murray's flow.The river's headwaters include Victoria's highest mountain, Mount Bogong, with the Mitta Mitta itself forming at the confluence of the Cobungra River and the Big...
, itself a tributary of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
.
Tributaries
Key tributaries of the Big River include Cairn Creek, Beckraith Creek, Camp Creek, Hollonds Creek, Dead Horse Creek, Middle Creek, Glen Wills Creek, Wallaby Creek, Burnside Creek, and the Bundara River.The main tributaries flow off the northern slopes of Spion Kopje, the southern slopes of Mount Bogong, the north, east, and west slopes of Mount Nelse (1882 m (6,175 ft)) and Mount Nelse North (1885 m (6,184 ft)), the eastern slopes of Mount Cope (1837 m (6,027 ft)), and the western slopes of Mount Wills (1750 m (5,741 ft)) and The Knocker (1506 m (4,941 ft)).
River health
Most of the waterways in the Mitta Mitta basin are recognised as being in good to excellent condition. Extensive forest covers much of the catchment area. Despite some land clearingLand clearing in Australia
Land clearing in Australia describes the removal of native vegetation and deforestation and in Australia. Land clearing involves the removal of native vegetation and habitats, including the bulldozing of native bushlands, forests, savannah, woodlands and native grasslands and the draining of...
and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
damage to river banks, the aquatic habitat
Lotic ecosystem
A lotic ecosystem is the ecosystem of a river, stream or spring. Included in the environment are the biotic interactions as well as the abiotic interactions ....
is generally very good. The upper Big River above the Glen Valley is classified as a "Representative River of East Victorian dissected uplands".
In early 2003, large areas of forest around the Big River and its catchments were severely impacted by the massive Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires
2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires
The Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires, also known as the Great Divide Fire Complex, started with eighty seven fires that were started by lightning in the north east of Victoria on 8 January 2003...
. These fires burnt through hundreds of square kilometres of the area's bushland
Bushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
for close to two months. The damage resulting from the fires impacted river health for some time after the fires.