Murray River (Western Australia): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|River in Peel region of Western Australia}}

The '''Murray River''' is a river in the south-west of [[Western Australia]] which played a significant part in the expansion of European settlement in the area south of [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] after the arrival of British settlers at the [[Swan River Colony]] in 1829.

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}

{{For|the river in the eastern states of the same name (also called "River Murray", especially in South Australia)|Murray River}}

{{More footnotes|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Murray River

| image = Murray River in Pinjarra, Western Australia, 2022, 03.jpg

| image_caption = Murray River in Pinjarra, Western Australia in June 2022

| map = Murray River Western Australia.png

| map_caption = Murray River watershed ([https://mghydro.com/watersheds/shared/2F2E95.html Interactive map])

| source1_location = [[Mount Keats]]

| mouth_location = [[Peel-Harvey Estuary]]

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]]

| length = {{convert|134|km|mi|0|lk=on}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|187|m|ft|0|lk=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&cmd=sp&p=213513&st=&s=Murray%20River|title= Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Murray River|year= 2009|access-date= 12 July 2016}}</ref>

| mouth_elevation = [[sea level]]

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size =

}}

The '''Murray River''' is a river in the south-westsouthwest of [[Western Australia]]. whichIt played a significant part in the expansion of European settlement in the area south of [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] after the arrival of British settlers[[settler]]s at the [[Swan River Colony]] in 1829. It should not be confused with the [[Murray River]] in southeastern Australia, which is the longest river in the country.

The river is one of the few major rivers in close proximity to Perth which is devoid of dams for public water supply. It includes a catchment area including a large part of the wheatbelt and south-westsouthwest of the state, draining from {{convert|450 |mm/year|in|abbr=on|0}} per annum average rainfall country in the east near [[Pingelly, Western Australia|Pingelly]], westward through the high rainfall parts of the [[Darling Range]] around [[Dwellingup, Western Australia|Dwellingup]] with an average rainfall of {{convert|1,300 |mm/year|in|abbr=on|0}} per annum.

The first of the two major tributaries, the [[Hotham River]], starts its journey near [[Narrogin, Western Australia|Narrogin]]. The other major tributary is the [[Williams River (Western Australia)|Williams River]], which starts between [[Williams, Western Australia|Williams]] and Narrogin. These two tributaries are the main rivers which drain the eastern wheat-belt.

The Murray River then flows through forested high -rainfall parts of the [[Darling Range]] to emerge near Pinjarra.

Another tributary, the [[Dandalup River]], joins the Murray a short distance downstream of Pinjarra. This section is known as the lower Murray and is navigable in small boats. The river then flows across the sand plain between the Darling ScapScarp and the coast to empty into the [[Peel-Harvey Estuary|Peel Estuary]] near [[Mandurah, Western Australia|Mandurah]].

The [[Mandurah canals|canal development]] of [[North Yunderup, Western Australia|North]] and [[South Yunderup, Western Australia|South]] Yunderup is situated several kilometerskilometres upstream from the estuary.

==History==

The first European exploration of the area was in July 19291829 when a group, led by [[Mark John Currie|Captain Currie]] of the ''[[{{HMS |Challenger (|1826)|HMS Challenger]]''6}} and accompanied by botanist [[James Drummond (botanist)|James Drummond]], marched a short distance inland from present -day [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]] and after climbing a small hill at what is now [[Baldivis, Western Australia|Baldivis]], sighted a river in the distance. This was later named the [[Serpentine River (Western Australia)|Serpentine River]], which is to the north of the Murray and for some time was confused with the Murray, which was not encountered until later that year.

In November, Dr [[Alexander Collie]] and [[William Preston (WesternRoyal AustralianNavy settlerofficer)|Lieutenant William Preston]] and crew from the ''[[{{HMS |Sulphur]]''|1826|6}} piloted two whaleboats[[whaleboat]]s out of Cockburn Sound and at midday on [[17 November]] [[1829]] crossed the ocean bar at present -day [[Mandurah, Western Australia|Mandurah]]. After camping overnight, they sailed south down the [[Peel-Harvey Estuary]] to the southern extreme near the delta of the [[Harvey River]], where they had an amicable encounter with some local [[IndigenousAboriginal Australians|aboriginesAboriginal people]].

Due to strong winds, they sailed north out of the estuary without exploring the westernEastern shore where the Murray River enters the estuary. The group then exited through the ocean bar and sailed south along the coast as far as the [[Collie River|Collie]] and [[Preston River]]s and the [[Leschenault Inlet]] before returning to the Peel-Harvey estuary on the [[28 November]] [[1829]]. From there they explored the Murray River delta, which at the time included five entrances into the estuary. The boats managed to navigate about two miles{{convert|2|mi|km|0|order=flip}} up the river before returning to [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]] after the 12 -day trip. This was their first actual encounter with the Murray River and it was named by [[James Stirling (Australian governor)|Governor James Stirling]] after the Secretary of State for the [[Colonial Office]] in [[London]], [[George Murray (Lieutenant-Governor)|Sir George Murray]].

Within a few months, desperate settlers from the Swan River had started to explore the river and choose blocks along its banks.

This was the first actual encounter with the Murray River which was named by [[James Stirling (Australian governor)|Governor James Stirling]] after the Secretary of State for the [[Colonial Office]] in [[London]], [[George Murray (Lieutenant-Governor)|Sir George Murray]].

Within a few months, desperate settlers from the Swan River had started to explore the river and choose blocks along its banks.

===Thomas Peel===

[[Thomas Peel]] had left Britain with a promise that if he arrived at Fremantle by the beginning of November 1829 with 400 settlers, he would be allocated a grant of 250{{convert|250000|acre|km2|order=flip}},000 acres comprising much of the land on the south bank of the Swan River to [[Cockburn Sound]]. As he arrived six weeks late and with only 169 settlers, the offer was withdrawn by Governor Stirling as the land had been granted to established settlers. Peel was offered an alternative grant from [[Woodman Point]] to the north bank of the Murray River and from the ocean to the [[Darling Scarp]].

Peel's remaining settlers arrived shortly after and settled initially at [[Clarence, New South Wales|Clarence]] before moving to the site of present -day Mandurah, which he named ''Peeltown''.

Despite many problems faced by the settlers, the area was gradually expanded, and a settlement at [[Pinjarra, Western Australia|Pinjarra]] had beenwas established by late 1830. Pinjarra was approximately the upper limit of navigable water along the Murray River. It also had a natural ford for travellers at nearby Oakley Brook.

More land allocations along the southern bank of the river were made; however, settlement seemed to be limited to no further south thatthan the Murray River grants, partly because of continuing and increasing conflicts with local aboriginesAboriginal people. These conflicts culminated in the infamous [[BattlePinjarra of Pinjarramassacre]] in October 1834 whereduring upwhich toan 40uncertain number of [[Noongar]] people of the local [[Pindjarup]] tribal group were killed. The massacre by whitea settlers.detachment of The25 battlesoldiers, hadpolice and settlers, led by Stirling, followed a raid in Perth by members of the Murray River tribe. The following year, a formal truce was made between the Murray River and the Swan River Noongars and the white settlers.

Relative peace was established and expansion around the towns of Pinjarra increased. The opening of the Perth to [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]] railway in 1893 further expanded the area.

Almost immediately after farming commenced, settlers realised that the soils surrounding the lower reaches of the river suffered badly from annual flooding caused by a very low fall between the base of the scarp and the estuary, a distance of about {{convert|40 |km}}. The problem was exacerbated by extensive clearing of trees in the foothills which would have otherwise helped in removingremove the excess water. Settlers described a giant wetland with travel impossible for several months each year.

From 1900 to about the end of the Second World War, a concerted effort at draining the flood -prone areas was made and today, about one-third of all land with the Peel-Harvey catchment is within {{convert|100 |m|ft|abbr=on|0}} of a constructed drain, stream or river.

==See also==

{{stack|{{portal|Western Australia}}}}

*[[List of watercourses in Western Australia]]

==General references==

Almost immediately after farming commenced, settlers realised that the soils surrounding the lower reaches of the river suffered badly from annual flooding caused by a very low fall between the base of the scarp and the estuary, a distance of about 40 km. The problem was exacerbated by extensive clearing of trees in the foothills which would have otherwise helped in removing the excess water. Settlers described a giant wetland with travel impossible for several months each year.

{{refbegin |30em}}

* {{cite book | author=Brearley, Anne| title=Ernest Hodgkin's Swanland : estuaries and coastal lagoons of South-western Australia| ___location= Crawley, W.A. |publisher=University of Western Australia Press for the Ernest Hodgkin Trust for Estuary Education and Research and National Trust of Australia (WA)| year=2005 | isbn=1-920694-38-2}}

*{{cite book|title=Peel-Harvey|author=Bradby, K|publisher=Greening the Catchment Taskforce|year=1997|idisbn=ISBN 07309804130-7309-8041-3}}

*{{cite Q |Q125995168 |mode=cs1

|chapter=The First Western Australians }}

{{refend}}

== References==

From 1900 to about the end of the Second World War, a concerted effort at draining the flood prone areas was made and today, about one-third of all land with the Peel-Harvey catchment is within 100 m of a constructed drain, stream or river.

{{reflist |30em}}

==ReferencesFurther reading==

{{refbegin |30em}}

*{{cite book|title=Peel-Harvey|author=Bradby, K|publisher=Greening the Catchment Taskforce|year=1997|id=ISBN 0730980413}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.naturebase.net/pdf/national_parks/management/lane_poole_issues.pdf|title=Lane Poole Reserve Issues Paper|work=Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM)|accessdateaccess-date=2007-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917064142/http://www.naturebase.net/pdf/national_parks/management/lane_poole_issues.pdf|archive-date=17 September 2007|url-status=dead}}

*{{cite book|title=A New History of Western Australia - the First Western Australians|author=Stannage, C.T. (ed)|year=1981|publisher=UWA Press}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.csiro.au/files/files/p3uh.pdf|work=CSIRO|title=Context report on south-west water resources|date=March 2005|accessdateaccess-date=2007-01-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906204725/http://csiro.au/files/files/p3uh.pdf|archive-date=6 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.naturebase.net/pdf/national_parks/management/lane_poole_issues.pdf|title=Lane Poole Reserve Issues Paper|work=Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM)|accessdate=2007-01-08}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.peel-harvey.org.au/pdfs/pub_res/Draft%20P-H%20NRM%20Plan%20Appendices%202005%20Final.pdf|title=Peel-Harvey Catchment - Natural Resource Management Plan|work=Peel-Harvey Catchment Council|date=March 2005|accessdateaccess-date=2007-01-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819224934/http://peel-harvey.org.au/pdfs/pub_res/Draft%20P-H%20NRM%20Plan%20Appendices%202005%20Final.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2006|df=dmy-all}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.csiro.au/files/files/p3uh.pdf|work=CSIRO|title=Context report on south-west water resources|date=March 2005|accessdate=2007-01-08}}

{{refend}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.peel-harvey.org.au/pdfs/pub_res/Draft%20P-H%20NRM%20Plan%20Appendices%202005%20Final.pdf|title=Peel-Harvey Catchment - Natural Resource Management Plan|work=Peel-Harvey Catchment Council|date=March 2005|accessdate=2007-01-08}}

{{coord|32|35|0|S|115|46|17|E|type:river_region:AU-WA|display=title}}

{{Rivers of Western Australia}}

[[Category:Rivers of Westernthe AustraliaPeel region]]

[[Category:Darling Range]]