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Coordinates: 30°52′S 153°01′E / 30.867°S 153.017°E / -30.867; 153.017
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{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox river
{{Infobox river
| name = Macleay River
| name = Macleay River
| name_native =
| native_name =
| name_native_lang =
| native_name_lang =
| name_other = Muddy River<ref name=gnb>{{NSW GNR|id=anYbvqqban|title=Macleay River|date=9 August 1968|accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref>
| name_other = Muddy River<ref name=gnb>{{NSW GNR|id=anYbvqqban|title=Macleay River|date=9 August 1968|access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref>
| name_etymology = In honour of [[Alexander Macleay]]<ref name=gnb/>
| name_etymology = [[Alexander Macleay]]<ref name=gnb/>
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image = Macleay River.JPG
| image = Macleay River.JPG
Line 23: Line 23:
| subdivision_name2 = [[New South Wales]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[New South Wales]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|IBRA]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|IBRA]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[New England Tablelands (biogeographic region)|New England Tablelands]], [[NSW North Coast]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[New England Tablelands bioregion|New England Tablelands]], [[New South Wales North Coast]]
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_name4 = [[Northern Tablelands]], [[Mid North Coast]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Northern Tablelands]], [[Mid North Coast]]
Line 36: Line 36:
| depth_avg =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_location= Near mouth
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{cvt|82.5|m3/s|GL/yr|abbr=on}}<ref name="East Coastal Watersheds">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/MAPS/AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIA%20SE%20COAST_EAST/index.html|title=East Coastal Watersheds}}</ref>
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max =
| discharge1_max =
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1 = [[Great Dividing Range]]
| source1 = [[Great Dividing Range]]
| source1_location = Blue Nobby Mountain, near [[Uralla, New South Wales|Uralla]]
| source1_location = Blue Nobby Mountain, near [[Uralla]]
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation = {{convert|455|m|abbr=on}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|455|m|abbr=on}}
Line 54: Line 54:
| source_confluence_elevation =
| source_confluence_elevation =
| mouth = [[Tasman Sea]]
| mouth = [[Tasman Sea]]
| mouth_location = near [[South West Rocks, New South Wales|South West Rocks]]
| mouth_location = near [[South West Rocks]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|30|52|S|153|01|E|display=title,inline|region:AU-NSW_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|30|52|S|153|01|E|display=title,inline|region:AU-NSW_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
Line 60: Line 60:
| waterfalls =
| waterfalls =
| river_system =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|11287|km2|abbr=on}}
| basin_size = {{convert|11,287|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = [[Chandler River (New South Wales)|Chandler River]], Top Creek, [[Dyke River]], Sunday Creek (New South Wales), [[Georges Creek (Armidale Dumaresq)|Georges Creek]], Five Day Creek, Lagoon Creek, Nulla Nulla Creek, Hickeys Creek, Mungay Creek, [[Christmas Creek]]
| tributaries_left = [[Chandler River (New South Wales)|Chandler River]], Top Creek, [[Dyke River]], Sunday Creek (New South Wales), [[Georges Creek (Armidale Dumaresq)|Georges Creek]], Five Day Creek, Lagoon Creek, Nulla Nulla Creek, Hickeys Creek, Mungay Creek, [[Christmas Creek]]
| tributaries_right = [[Blue Mountain Creek]], [[Apsley River (New South Wales)|Apsley River]], [[Kunderang Brook]], Carrolls Creek, Felters Creek, [[Stockyard Creek (New South Wales)|Stockyard Creek]], Mackenzies Creek, Warbro Brook, Parrabel Creek, [[Cadiangullong Creek]], Dungay Creek
| tributaries_right = [[Blue Mountain Creek]], [[Apsley River (New South Wales)|Apsley River]], [[Kunderang Brook]], Carrolls Creek, Felters Creek, [[Stockyard Creek (New South Wales)|Stockyard Creek]], Mackenzies Creek, Warbro Brook, Parrabel Creek, [[Cadiangullong Creek]], Dungay Creek
| custom_label = [[National Park]]s
| custom_label = [[National park]]s
| custom_data = [[Cunnawarra National Park|Cunnawarra NP]], [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park|Oxley Wild Rivers NP]]
| custom_data = [[Cunnawarra National Park|Cunnawarra NP]], [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park|Oxley Wild Rivers NP]]
| extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=210521&cmd=sp |title=Map of Macleay River, NSW |publisher=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref>
| extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=210521&cmd=sp |title=Map of Macleay River, NSW |publisher=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''Macleay River''', an open and [[Breakwater (structure)|trained]] mature [[wind wave|wave dominated]], [[estuary#Lagoon-type or bar-built|barrier estuary]],<ref name="roy">{{cite journal |author1=Roy, P. S |author2=Williams, R. J |author3=Jones, A. R |author4=Yassini, I |year=2001 |title=Structure and Function of South-east Australian Estuaries |journal=[[Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science]] |volume=53 |pages=351–384 |doi=10.1006/ecss.2001.0796|display-authors=etal}}</ref> is located in the [[Northern Tablelands]] and [[Mid North Coast]] districts of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]].
The '''Macleay River''' is a [[river]] that spans the [[Northern Tablelands]] and [[Mid North Coast]] districts of [[New South Wales]], Australia.


==Course and features==
==Course and features==
[[File:Macleay R.jpg|thumb|left|Macleay River at Oven Camp, [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park]].]]
[[File:Macleay R.jpg|thumb|left|Macleay River at Oven Camp, [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park]].]]
Formed by the [[confluence]] of the [[Gara River (Australia)|Gara River]], Salisbury Waters and Bakers Creek, the Macleay River rises below Blue Nobby Mountain, east of [[Uralla, New South Wales|Uralla]] within the [[Great Dividing Range]]. The river flows in a meandering [[watercourse|course]] generally east by south, joined by twenty-six [[tributary|tributaries]] including the [[Apsley River (New South Wales)|Apsley]], [[Chandler River (New South Wales)|Chandler]], and [[Dyke River|Dyke]] rivers and passing through a number of spectacular [[Canyon|gorges]] and [[waterfalls]] in [[Cunnawarra National Park]] and [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park]], before reaching its [[river mouth|mouth]] at the [[Tasman Sea]], near [[South West Rocks, New South Wales|South West Rocks]]. The river descends {{convert|460|m}} over its {{convert|298|km}} course.<ref name=bonzle/>
Formed by the [[confluence]] of the [[Gara River (Australia)|Gara River]], Salisbury Waters and Bakers Creek, the Macleay River rises below Blue Nobby Mountain, east of [[Uralla, New South Wales|Uralla]] within the [[Great Dividing Range]]. The river flows in a meandering [[watercourse|course]] generally east by south, joined by twenty-six [[tributary|tributaries]] including the [[Apsley River (New South Wales)|Apsley]], [[Chandler River (New South Wales)|Chandler]], and [[Dyke River|Dyke]] rivers and passing through a number of spectacular [[Canyon|gorges]] and [[waterfalls]] in [[Cunnawarra National Park]] and [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park]], through heritage-listed mountain village [[Bellbrook, New South Wales|Bellbrook]] amidst others, before reaching its [[river mouth|mouth]] at the [[Tasman Sea]], near [[South West Rocks]]. The river descends {{convert|460|m}} over its {{convert|298|km}} course.<ref name=bonzle/>


The river flows adjacent to the city of [[Kempsey, New South Wales|Kempsey]]. At {{NSWcity|Frederickton}} the river is traversed by the [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]] via the [[Macleay River Bridge]], the second longest road bridge in Australia.<ref name="Media Monitors">{{cite news|title=Mid-year start for project to complete Kempsey Bypass|work=|publisher=Media Monitors|date=1 March 2011|url=http://media.mediamonitors.com.au/ArticlePresenter.aspx?GUID=d22baf2f-6448-4c24-99aa-6240777bfc31&ArticleID=96150313&output=pdfsearchable|accessdate=1 April 2011}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The river is also traversed by the [[North Coast railway line, New South Wales|North Coast railway line]].<ref name="AE">{{cite book |editor=Chisholm, Alec H |title=The Australian Encyclopaedia |volume=4 |page=444 |chapter=Macleay River |publisher=Halstead Press |location=Sydney |year=1963 |isbn=}}</ref>
The river flows through the town of [[Kempsey, New South Wales|Kempsey]]. At {{NSWcity|Frederickton}} the river is traversed by the [[Pacific Highway, Australia|Pacific Highway]] via the [[Macleay River Bridge]] ([[Dhanggati language]]: ''Yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu'').<ref>{{cite news |author=Connaughton, Todd |url=http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/3529782/its-the-macleay-valley-bridge-and-the-yapang-gurraarrbang-gayandugayigu/ |title=It's the Macleay Valley Bridge (and the 'yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu') |work=Macleay Argus |date=1 December 2015 |access-date=4 April 2020 }}</ref> At the time of its official opening in 2013, the bridge was the longest [[road bridge]] in Australia.<ref name=ARUP>{{cite web |url=https://www.arup.com/projects/macleay-river-and-floodplain-bridge |title=Australia's longest bridge crosses the Macleay River in Northern NSW |work=Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge, Kempsey, NSW |publisher=[[Arup Group]] |date=March 2013 |access-date=4 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Media Monitors">{{cite news|title=Mid-year start for project to complete Kempsey Bypass|publisher=Media Monitors|date=1 March 2011|url=http://media.mediamonitors.com.au/ArticlePresenter.aspx?GUID=d22baf2f-6448-4c24-99aa-6240777bfc31&ArticleID=96150313&output=pdfsearchable|access-date=1 April 2011}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The river is also traversed by the [[North Coast railway line, New South Wales|North Coast railway line]].<ref name="AE">{{cite book |editor=Chisholm, Alec H. |title=The Australian Encyclopaedia |volume=4 |page=444 |chapter=Macleay River |publisher=Halstead Press |location=Sydney |year=1963 }}</ref>


The Macleay River is liable to flooding in the Kempsey area, on occasions causing great damage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18701505 |title=Disastrous flood in the Macleay River |work=The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser |date=25 August 1864 |publisher=National Library of Australia |accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18273311 |title=Taming savage Macleay is big but urgent task |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=16 July 1952 |publisher=National Library of Australia |accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/www/NatureofFloodinginKempseyShire.pdf |format=PDF |title=The nature of flooding in the Kempsey Shire |work=Kempsey Shire Local Flood Plan |date=November 2011 |publisher=[[Kempsey Shire Council]] |accessdate=11 March 2013 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090519025932/http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/www/NatureofFloodinginKempseyShire.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During times of peak flooding, the Macleay River can hold over {{convert|200000|GL}} of water.
The Macleay River is liable to flooding in the Kempsey area, on occasions causing great damage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18701505 |title=Disastrous flood in the Macleay River |work=[[Maitland Mercury|Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser]]|date=25 August 1864 |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18273311 |title=Taming savage Macleay is big but urgent task |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=16 July 1952 |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/www/NatureofFloodinginKempseyShire.pdf |title=The nature of flooding in the Kempsey Shire |work=Kempsey Shire Local Flood Plan |date=November 2011 |publisher=[[Kempsey Shire Council]] |access-date=11 March 2013 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090519025932/http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/www/NatureofFloodinginKempseyShire.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During times of peak flooding, the Macleay River can hold over {{convert|200000|GL|e6impgal e6USgal|abbr=off|lk=on}} of water.


==History==
==History==
The [[Dunghutti]], an [[Aboriginal Australian]] people, are the traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Macleay River catchment and the Apsley River catchment, whose descendants are now concentrated in the lower Macleay River. Stone artefacts and evidence of Aboriginal stone tool-making have been found around the Macleay and Apsley rivers.<ref name="mgt_plan">{{cite web |title=OXLEY WILD RIVERS NATIONAL PARK,OXLEY WILD RIVERS STATE CONSERVATION AREA,CUNNAWARRA NATIONAL PARK ANDGEORGES CREEK NATURE RESERVE: PLAN OF MANAGEMENT |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/Parks-plans-of-management/oxley-wild-rivers-cunnawarra-georges-creek-parks-plan-of-management-050627.pdf |website=[[Department of Planning & Environment]]|publisher=[[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]|access-date=27 March 2021 |date=2005}}</ref>
{{refimprove section|date=October 2013}}
The [[Dunghutti]], an [[Aboriginal Australian]] people, are the traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Macleay River catchment and the Apsley River catchment, whose descendants are now concentrated in the lower Macleay River. Archaeological evidence of Aboriginal camp sites have been found on the upper terraces of the Macleay and Apsley rivers.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}


[[John Oxley]], failed to realize the potential of this river in 1820 when he did not navigate far enough up the river to see the magnificent stands of timber and the fertile land. The river was vaguely referred to as the New River from descriptions given by Aborigines. In 1826 Captain Wright travelled overland from Port Macquarie and explored to the head of navigation at Belgrave Falls, a series of rapids to the west of the present town of Kempsey. Then called Wrights River, Major [[Archibald Clunes Innes]], Commandant of Port Macquarie Penal Settlement, sent the first government gang of Australian red cedar (''[[Toona ciliata]]'') cutters to work here in 1827.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}
[[John Oxley]] failed to realise the potential of this river in 1820 as he did not navigate far enough up-river to see the magnificent stands of timber and the fertile land. The river was vaguely referred to as the New River from descriptions given by Aborigines. In 1826 Captain Wright travelled overland from [[Port Macquarie]] and explored to the head of navigation at Belgrave Falls, a series of rapids to the west of the present town of Kempsey. It was then called Wrights River. Major [[Archibald Clunes Innes]], Commandant of Port Macquarie Penal Settlement, sent the first government gang of Australian red cedar (''[[Toona ciliata]]'') cutters to work there in 1827.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}


More cedar camps were established on the Macleay during the 1830s and the area was also a haven for escaped convicts. By 1841, about 200 cutters were working on the river area, where violence and theft of logs was not uncommon. Demand and prices dropped in 1842 and cutting along the Macleay diminished although it continued in the upper tributaries. When Europeans arrived in the area around the 1820s the river mouth was just south of Grassy Head, and almost a mile wide with a sand spit in the middle. The small town of Stuarts Point was established on the river just inside to serve arriving ships.<ref>{{cite book |title=Valley of the Macleay |author=Neil, Marie H |year=1972 |isbn=0-85587-037-0 |chapter=Chapters 1 and 10}}</ref>
More cedar camps were established on the Macleay during the 1830s and the area was also a haven for escaped convicts. By 1841, about 200 cutters were working on the river area, where violence and theft of logs was not uncommon. Demand and prices dropped in 1842 and cutting along the Macleay diminished although it continued in the upper tributaries. When Europeans arrived in the area around the 1820s the river mouth was just south of Grassy Head, and almost a mile wide with a sand spit in the middle. The small town of Stuarts Point was established on the river just inside to serve arriving ships.<ref>{{cite book |title=Valley of the Macleay |author=Neil, Marie H |year=1972 |isbn=0-85587-037-0 |chapter=Chapters 1 and 10}}</ref>


The coastal strip extending from South West Rocks to Grassy Head is a wide delta with various channels connected to the river. Around 1885 English marine engineer John Coode advised on improvements to various rivers and ports in Australia, including the Macleay. The Department of Public Works prepared four plans for improvements to the mouth, Coode favoured improving the existing entrance. In 1893 a flood enlarged an opening near South West Rocks and the department elected to improve that, called the New Entrance, though Coode had thought it not enough to drain all the waters of the district. Work on the new entrance commenced in April 1896, improving the channel and adding training walls. A new [[pilot station]] was built in 1902, establishing the town of [[South West Rocks, New South Wales|South West Rocks]]. Work was completed in 1906. Today the old mouth has silted up, leaving Stuarts Point on a dead-end reach.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}
The coastal strip extending from South West Rocks to Grassy Head is a wide delta with various channels connected to the river. Around 1885 English marine engineer John Coode advised on improvements to various rivers and ports in Australia, including the Macleay. The [[NSW Public Works|Department of Public Works]] prepared four plans for improvements to the mouth, Coode favoured improving the existing entrance. In 1893 a flood enlarged an opening near South West Rocks and the department elected to improve that, called the New Entrance, though Coode had thought it not enough to drain all the waters of the district. Work on the new entrance started in April 1896, improving the channel and adding training walls. A new [[pilot station]] was built in 1902, establishing the town of [[South West Rocks]]. Work was completed in 1906. Today the old mouth has silted up, leaving Stuarts Point on a dead-end reach.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}


Variously known as Wright River, Trail River, New and McLeay rivers it was named the Macleay River in honour of Innes’s father-in-law, [[Alexander Macleay]], Scottish-born scientist and colonial secretary of New South Wales.<ref name=gnb/><ref>{{cite book |author=Kay, Donald, J |title=Exploring the North Coast and New England |publisher=Kangaroo Press |location=Kenthurst |year=1978 |isbn=0-86417-121-8}}</ref>
Variously known as Wright River, Trail River, New and McLeay rivers, it was named the Macleay River in honour of Innes's father-in-law, [[Alexander Macleay]], Scottish-born scientist and colonial secretary of New South Wales.<ref name=gnb/><ref>{{cite book |author=Kay, Donald, J |title=Exploring the North Coast and New England |publisher=Kangaroo Press |location=Kenthurst |year=1978 |isbn=0-86417-121-8}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Water|Environment}}}}
{{Portal|New South Wales|Water|Environment}}
* [[Rivers of New South Wales]]
* [[Rivers of New South Wales]]
* [[List of rivers of Australia]]
* [[List of rivers of Australia]]
* [[Bellbrook, New South Wales]]
* [[Macleay Valley Bridge]] - the longest [[road bridge]] in Australia


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/Macleay/maplg.htm|title=Macleay River catchment|format=map|work=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|date=}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/Macleay/maplg.htm|title=Macleay River catchment|format=map|work=[[Office of Environment & Heritage]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* [http://nrgeology.blogspot.com.au/search/label/macleay_river Northern Rivers Geology Blog - Macleay River]
* [http://nrgeology.blogspot.com.au/search/label/macleay_river Northern Rivers Geology Blog – Macleay River]


{{Rivers of the Northern Rivers catchment |state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of the Northern Rivers catchment |state=autocollapse}}
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{{Mid North Coast NSW |state=autocollapse}}
{{Mid North Coast NSW |state=autocollapse}}
{{Towns in New England |state=autocollapse}}
{{Towns in New England |state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Rivers of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Rivers of New South Wales]]

Latest revision as of 02:49, 4 November 2024

Macleay River
Muddy River[1]
Macleay River, viewed at Lower Creek
Macleay River is located in New South Wales
Macleay River
Location of the river mouth in New South Wales
EtymologyAlexander Macleay[1]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateNew South Wales
IBRANew England Tablelands, New South Wales North Coast
DistrictNorthern Tablelands, Mid North Coast
Local government areaArmidale, Bellingen, Kempsey
Physical characteristics
SourceGreat Dividing Range
 • locationBlue Nobby Mountain, near Uralla
 • elevation455 m (1,493 ft)
2nd sourceGara River
Source confluenceSalisbury Waters and Bakers Creek
MouthTasman Sea
 • location
near South West Rocks
 • coordinates
30°52′S 153°01′E / 30.867°S 153.017°E / -30.867; 153.017
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length298 km (185 mi)
Basin size11,287 km2 (4,358 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average82.5 m3/s (2,600 GL/a)[2]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftChandler River, Top Creek, Dyke River, Sunday Creek (New South Wales), Georges Creek, Five Day Creek, Lagoon Creek, Nulla Nulla Creek, Hickeys Creek, Mungay Creek, Christmas Creek
 • rightBlue Mountain Creek, Apsley River, Kunderang Brook, Carrolls Creek, Felters Creek, Stockyard Creek, Mackenzies Creek, Warbro Brook, Parrabel Creek, Cadiangullong Creek, Dungay Creek
National parksCunnawarra NP, Oxley Wild Rivers NP
[3]

The Macleay River is a river that spans the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia.

Course and features

[edit]
Macleay River at Oven Camp, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

Formed by the confluence of the Gara River, Salisbury Waters and Bakers Creek, the Macleay River rises below Blue Nobby Mountain, east of Uralla within the Great Dividing Range. The river flows in a meandering course generally east by south, joined by twenty-six tributaries including the Apsley, Chandler, and Dyke rivers and passing through a number of spectacular gorges and waterfalls in Cunnawarra National Park and Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, through heritage-listed mountain village Bellbrook amidst others, before reaching its mouth at the Tasman Sea, near South West Rocks. The river descends 460 metres (1,510 ft) over its 298 kilometres (185 mi) course.[3]

The river flows through the town of Kempsey. At Frederickton the river is traversed by the Pacific Highway via the Macleay River Bridge (Dhanggati language: Yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu).[4] At the time of its official opening in 2013, the bridge was the longest road bridge in Australia.[5][6] The river is also traversed by the North Coast railway line.[7]

The Macleay River is liable to flooding in the Kempsey area, on occasions causing great damage.[8][9][10] During times of peak flooding, the Macleay River can hold over 200,000 gigalitres (44,000,000 million imperial gallons; 53,000,000 million US gallons) of water.

History

[edit]

The Dunghutti, an Aboriginal Australian people, are the traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Macleay River catchment and the Apsley River catchment, whose descendants are now concentrated in the lower Macleay River. Stone artefacts and evidence of Aboriginal stone tool-making have been found around the Macleay and Apsley rivers.[11]

John Oxley failed to realise the potential of this river in 1820 as he did not navigate far enough up-river to see the magnificent stands of timber and the fertile land. The river was vaguely referred to as the New River from descriptions given by Aborigines. In 1826 Captain Wright travelled overland from Port Macquarie and explored to the head of navigation at Belgrave Falls, a series of rapids to the west of the present town of Kempsey. It was then called Wrights River. Major Archibald Clunes Innes, Commandant of Port Macquarie Penal Settlement, sent the first government gang of Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata) cutters to work there in 1827.[citation needed]

More cedar camps were established on the Macleay during the 1830s and the area was also a haven for escaped convicts. By 1841, about 200 cutters were working on the river area, where violence and theft of logs was not uncommon. Demand and prices dropped in 1842 and cutting along the Macleay diminished although it continued in the upper tributaries. When Europeans arrived in the area around the 1820s the river mouth was just south of Grassy Head, and almost a mile wide with a sand spit in the middle. The small town of Stuarts Point was established on the river just inside to serve arriving ships.[12]

The coastal strip extending from South West Rocks to Grassy Head is a wide delta with various channels connected to the river. Around 1885 English marine engineer John Coode advised on improvements to various rivers and ports in Australia, including the Macleay. The Department of Public Works prepared four plans for improvements to the mouth, Coode favoured improving the existing entrance. In 1893 a flood enlarged an opening near South West Rocks and the department elected to improve that, called the New Entrance, though Coode had thought it not enough to drain all the waters of the district. Work on the new entrance started in April 1896, improving the channel and adding training walls. A new pilot station was built in 1902, establishing the town of South West Rocks. Work was completed in 1906. Today the old mouth has silted up, leaving Stuarts Point on a dead-end reach.[citation needed]

Variously known as Wright River, Trail River, New and McLeay rivers, it was named the Macleay River in honour of Innes's father-in-law, Alexander Macleay, Scottish-born scientist and colonial secretary of New South Wales.[1][13]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Macleay River". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 March 2013. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "East Coastal Watersheds".
  3. ^ a b "Map of Macleay River, NSW". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  4. ^ Connaughton, Todd (1 December 2015). "It's the Macleay Valley Bridge (and the 'yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu')". Macleay Argus. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Australia's longest bridge crosses the Macleay River in Northern NSW". Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge, Kempsey, NSW. Arup Group. March 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Mid-year start for project to complete Kempsey Bypass". Media Monitors. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ Chisholm, Alec H., ed. (1963). "Macleay River". The Australian Encyclopaedia. Vol. 4. Sydney: Halstead Press. p. 444.
  8. ^ "Disastrous flood in the Macleay River". Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser. National Library of Australia. 25 August 1864. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Taming savage Macleay is big but urgent task". Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 16 July 1952. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  10. ^ "The nature of flooding in the Kempsey Shire" (PDF). Kempsey Shire Local Flood Plan. Kempsey Shire Council. November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  11. ^ "OXLEY WILD RIVERS NATIONAL PARK,OXLEY WILD RIVERS STATE CONSERVATION AREA,CUNNAWARRA NATIONAL PARK ANDGEORGES CREEK NATURE RESERVE: PLAN OF MANAGEMENT" (PDF). Department of Planning & Environment. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  12. ^ Neil, Marie H (1972). "Chapters 1 and 10". Valley of the Macleay. ISBN 0-85587-037-0.
  13. ^ Kay, Donald, J (1978). Exploring the North Coast and New England. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-121-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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