De Grey River
Encyclopedia
The De Grey River is a river
located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia
.
The river rises South of Callawa at the confluence of the Oakover
and the Nullagine rivers
and flows in a west north westerly direction eventually discharging into the Indian Ocean via Breaker Inlet about 80 km North East of Port Hedland
.
Its stream bed
is 100 to 130 meters wide, dry throughout most of the year . The shore's land is rich in grass and fertile, featuring trees.
The river flows through many semi-permanent pools of water on the way to the coast, including Yukerakine Pool, Muccanoo Pool, Talyirina Pool, Wardoomoondener Pool and Triangle Pool.
The river has eleven tributaries
, including the Oakover River
, Nullagine River
, Coongan River
, East Strelley River, Shaw River, Miningarra Creek, Egg Creek and Kookenyia Creek.
The river was named in 1861 by the explorer and surveyor Francis Gregory
after the Earl De Grey
who was, at the time, President of the Royal Geographic Society.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The river rises South of Callawa at the confluence of the Oakover
Oakover River
The Oakover River is a river in the Pilbara of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise North of the Wadara Range and West of the Saltbush range near Junction Well then flows in a northerly direction...
and the Nullagine rivers
Nullagine River
The Nullagine River is a river in the Pilbara of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise South of Bonney Downs and then flow in a northerly direction. The river crosses the Marble Bar road at Nullagine and continues to flow in a north easterly direction until it merges with the Oakover...
and flows in a west north westerly direction eventually discharging into the Indian Ocean via Breaker Inlet about 80 km North East of Port Hedland
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port in Australia and largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of approximately 14,000 ....
.
Its stream bed
Stream bed
A stream bed is the channel bottom of a stream, river or creek; the physical confine of the normal water flow. The lateral confines or channel margins, during all but flood stage, are known as the stream banks or river banks. In fact, a flood occurs when a stream overflows its banks and flows onto...
is 100 to 130 meters wide, dry throughout most of the year . The shore's land is rich in grass and fertile, featuring trees.
The river flows through many semi-permanent pools of water on the way to the coast, including Yukerakine Pool, Muccanoo Pool, Talyirina Pool, Wardoomoondener Pool and Triangle Pool.
The river has eleven tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
, including the Oakover River
Oakover River
The Oakover River is a river in the Pilbara of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise North of the Wadara Range and West of the Saltbush range near Junction Well then flows in a northerly direction...
, Nullagine River
Nullagine River
The Nullagine River is a river in the Pilbara of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise South of Bonney Downs and then flow in a northerly direction. The river crosses the Marble Bar road at Nullagine and continues to flow in a north easterly direction until it merges with the Oakover...
, Coongan River
Coongan River
The Coongan River is an ephemeral river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise below the Chichester Range then flow in a northerly direction past Marble Bar then through the Gorge Range before discharging into the De Grey River, of which it is a tributary, at...
, East Strelley River, Shaw River, Miningarra Creek, Egg Creek and Kookenyia Creek.
The river was named in 1861 by the explorer and surveyor Francis Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory was an English-born Australian explorer and politician.-Biography:Gregory was born at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory...
after the Earl De Grey
Earl de Grey
The titles of Marquess De Grey and Earl De Grey were created in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom respectively for descendants of the Greys, Duke of Kent and Earls of Kent, created 1465, who were unrelated or extremely distantly related to the family of the Earls Grey created...
who was, at the time, President of the Royal Geographic Society.
Further reading
- Hasluck, Paul (1929) The first year in the North-West.(Account of the cutter Mystery and the barque Tien Tsin in taking stock for Walter Padbury and Henry Welland to De Grey in 1863, principally from the diaries of Charles Nairn and William Shakespeare Hall).Journal and proceedings (Western Australian Historical Society) Vol.1, pt.4 (1929), p.1-16,