Margaret River (Kimberley region, Western Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Margaret River is a river
in the Kimberley of Western Australia
.
The headwaters of the river rise in the King Leopold Range West of Halls Creek
and flows in a westerly until it merges with the Fitzroy River
of which it is a tributary
. The junction of the two rivers is close to the Fitzroy Crossing
.
The river was named in 1879 by the explorer Alexander Forrest
during an expedition in the Kimberley area. The river is named after Margaret Elvire Forrest, the wife of his brother and Western Australia
n Premier, John Forrest
.
Margaret River has 15 tributaries including; Mary River
, Gliddon River, O'Donnell River, Leopold River, Louisa River, Station Creek, Dead Horse Creek, Gidgia Creek and Boab Creek.
The state Public Works Department
set up flow monitoring station on the Margaret River at the entrance of the gorge where it enters the Mueller Ranges in 1966. Debate continues about the use of the Fitzroy River
basin as a water source for the South West of Western Australia.
Fish such as the Barramundi
, Freshwater Sawfish, Greenway's grunter and the False-spine Catfish have all been found within the river system.
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...
in the Kimberley 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 headwaters of the river rise in the King Leopold Range West of Halls Creek
Halls Creek, Western Australia
Halls Creek is a small town situated in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located between the towns of Fitzroy Crossing and Turkey Creek on the Great Northern Highway...
and flows in a westerly until it merges with the Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Western Australia)
The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.-Discovery:The Fitzroy River was discovered by the West in 1837 by George Grey in the H.M.S. Beagle. The river was subsequently named by Lt J L Stokes on 26/2/1838 after Captain Robert FitzRoy R.N...
of which it is a tributary
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...
. The junction of the two rivers is close to the Fitzroy Crossing
Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
Fitzroy Crossing is a small town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, 400 km east of Broome and 300 km west of Halls Creek. It is approximately 2,524 km from the state capital of Perth....
.
The river was named in 1879 by the explorer Alexander Forrest
Alexander Forrest
Alexander Forrest CMG, was an explorer and surveyor of Western Australia, as well as a politician.-Early life:Forrest was born at Picton, near Bunbury in Western Australia, the son of William and Margaret Forrest...
during an expedition in the Kimberley area. The river is named after Margaret Elvire Forrest, the wife of his brother and 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...
n Premier, John Forrest
John Forrest
Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament....
.
Margaret River has 15 tributaries including; Mary River
Mary River (Western Australia)
Mary River is a river in the Kimberley of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise South of Mount Angelo, approximately 25 km South of Halls Creek, the river then flows in a westerly direction through Oollumarra Soak and discharging into Margaret River of which it is a tributary.Mary...
, Gliddon River, O'Donnell River, Leopold River, Louisa River, Station Creek, Dead Horse Creek, Gidgia Creek and Boab Creek.
The state Public Works Department
Public Works Department (Western Australia)
-History:The Public Works Department is a now defunct government of Western Australia which was charged with providing and maintaining public infrastructure such as dams, water supplies, schools, hospitals, harbours and other public buildings....
set up flow monitoring station on the Margaret River at the entrance of the gorge where it enters the Mueller Ranges in 1966. Debate continues about the use of the Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Western Australia)
The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.-Discovery:The Fitzroy River was discovered by the West in 1837 by George Grey in the H.M.S. Beagle. The river was subsequently named by Lt J L Stokes on 26/2/1838 after Captain Robert FitzRoy R.N...
basin as a water source for the South West of Western Australia.
Fish such as the Barramundi
Barramundi
The Barramundi , also known as Asian Seabass, is a species of catadromous fish in family Latidae of order Perciformes. The native species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region from the Persian Gulf, through Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia. Known in Thai...
, Freshwater Sawfish, Greenway's grunter and the False-spine Catfish have all been found within the river system.