Minilya River
Encyclopedia
The Minilya River is a river
in the Gascoyne
of Western Australia
.
The headwaters of the river rise in the south west of the Black Range then flows in a westerly direction crossing the North West Coastal Highway
near the Minilya Roadhouse
then later discharging into Lake MacLeod
. The area is semi-arid with a landscape of woodland and scrub used for sheep and cattle grazng.
The Minilya has three tributaries
; Minilya River South, Bee Well Creek and Naughton Creek.
The name of the river is aboriginal in origin but its meaning is unknown. The first Europeans to discover the river were the explorers who named it; Charles Brockman and George Hamersley who visited the area in 1876.
The traditional owners of the area is the Targari and Baljungu peoples.
The soils throughout the river basin are eroded and the regional ecology
is degraded as a result of cattle grazing from the numerous pastoral station
s found through the area. As a result fencing has been installed through the length of the river, water tanks and troughs installed and establishment of new grazing yards.
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 Gascoyne
Gascoyne
Gascoyne is the name of a number of places, including:* Gascoyne , a region which contains** the town of Gascoyne Junction, Western Australia** the Gascoyne River** the Shire of Upper Gascoyne* Gascoyne, North Dakota, a town...
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 south west of the Black Range then flows in a westerly direction crossing the North West Coastal Highway
North West Coastal Highway
North West Coastal Highway in Western Australia is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the fishing town of Geraldton with the iron ore port of Port Hedland. It is long, and constructed as a sealed 2-lane single carriageway with overtaking lanes in some parts. It was...
near the Minilya Roadhouse
Minilya, Western Australia
Minilya is a location in Western Australia north of Carnarvon on the North West Coastal Highway. It is at a junction in the North West Coastal Highway, where the turn off to Exmouth is 220 kilometres from that location. The main highway then continues to the next junction 217 kilometres further, at...
then later discharging into Lake MacLeod
Lake Macleod
Lake Macleod is the westernmost lake in Australia. It lies north of the small coastal city of Carnarvon, Western Australia, estimated population 7,200.-History:...
. The area is semi-arid with a landscape of woodland and scrub used for sheep and cattle grazng.
The Minilya has three 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...
; Minilya River South, Bee Well Creek and Naughton Creek.
The name of the river is aboriginal in origin but its meaning is unknown. The first Europeans to discover the river were the explorers who named it; Charles Brockman and George Hamersley who visited the area in 1876.
The traditional owners of the area is the Targari and Baljungu peoples.
The soils throughout the river basin are eroded and the regional ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
is degraded as a result of cattle grazing from the numerous pastoral station
Station (Australian agriculture)
Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. It corresponds to the North American term ranch or South American estancia...
s found through the area. As a result fencing has been installed through the length of the river, water tanks and troughs installed and establishment of new grazing yards.