Stanley River (Queensland)
Encyclopedia
The Stanley River in Queensland
is the main tributary of the Brisbane River
. The Stanley River valley extends roughly 35 km westwards from the area south of Maleny
to Kilcoy
before veering southwards.
It is dammed by the Somerset Dam
built 7 km upstream from its confluence with the Brisbane River. The dam was the principal water supply for Brisbane
for some fifty years until the construction of the Wivenhoe Dam
was completed, forming Lake Wivenhoe.
who saw flash flooding in the upper reaches of the Stanley River valley, the 1893 Black February floods caused severe flooding downstream in Brisbane and other towns such as Fernvale
.
The river once marked the north-west boundary of the defunct County of Stanley
.
. In the upper reaches bushland remains mostly intact although wildlife corridor
s have been fragmented and fish stocks reduced.
The Gastric-brooding frog
is a recently extinct frog that was discovered in only three catchments, the Mary River
, Mooloolah
and Stanley Rivers.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
is the main tributary of the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
. The Stanley River valley extends roughly 35 km westwards from the area south of Maleny
Maleny, Queensland
Maleny is a small, scenic town north of Brisbane on the Blackall Range overlooking the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia. Nearby towns include Landsborough, Montville and Peachester...
to Kilcoy
Kilcoy, Queensland
Kilcoy is a small farming town and part of the Somerset Region Local Government Area in South East Queensland, Australia. The township lies on the D'Aguilar Highway, 94 km north west of the state capital, Brisbane, and just to the north of Lake Somerset...
before veering southwards.
It is dammed by the Somerset Dam
Lake Somerset
Lake Somerset is an artificial lake created by the Somerset Dam on the Stanley River in South East Queensland. The dam was completed in 1953 providing flood mitigation and water storage for the cities of Brisbane and Ipswich and is the site of a small 4 MW hydroelectric power station.At full...
built 7 km upstream from its confluence with the Brisbane River. The dam was the principal water supply for Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
for some fifty years until the construction of the Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam is a dam across the Brisbane River a little way upstream from Locker Creek. The dam creates the artificial Lake Wivenhoe. The dam wall is located about by road from the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
was completed, forming Lake Wivenhoe.
History
Before either dam was built the Stanley and Brisbane Rivers were both prone to flooding. Despite warnings instigated by Henry SomersetHenry Somerset
Henry Somerset may refer to:*Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester was born around 1496 to Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and his wife*Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester Henry Somerset may refer to:*Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester was born around 1496 to Charles Somerset, 1st...
who saw flash flooding in the upper reaches of the Stanley River valley, the 1893 Black February floods caused severe flooding downstream in Brisbane and other towns such as Fernvale
Fernvale, Queensland
Fernvale is a town located on the Brisbane Valley Highway in South East Queensland. The town is part of the Somerset Region.Situated a few kilometres from the Brisbane River, it is 30 km away from Ipswich and 60 km away from Brisbane. It is 80 km away from Toowoomba and 120 km...
.
The river once marked the north-west boundary of the defunct County of Stanley
County of Stanley, Queensland
The County of Stanley is a county in Queensland, Australia. Like all counties in Queensland, it is a non-functional administrative unit, that is used mainly for the purpose of registering land titles. It was named after Edward Stanley, who was three times British Prime Minister in the 1850s and...
.
Flora and fauna
Riparian vegetation around the Lake Somerset area have been almost completely cleared for grazingGrazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
. In the upper reaches bushland remains mostly intact although wildlife corridor
Wildlife corridor
A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities . This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within...
s have been fragmented and fish stocks reduced.
The Gastric-brooding frog
Gastric-brooding frog
The gastric-brooding frogs or Platypus frogs were a genus of ground-dwelling frogs native to Queensland in eastern Australia. The genus consisted of only two species, both of which became extinct in the mid-1980s...
is a recently extinct frog that was discovered in only three catchments, the Mary River
Mary River (Queensland)
The Mary River is a river system in South East Queensland, Australia. The river rises at Booroobin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, west of Landsborough...
, Mooloolah
Mooloolah River
The Mooloolah River is a river in South East Queensland, Australia. The river rises from the eastern slopes of the Blackall Range and flows east-northeast, similar to the Maroochy River to the north. The mouth of the river is at southern Mooloolaba. The catchment area covers 221 km2.Addlington...
and Stanley Rivers.