| Name other | Paroo Channel, Paroo River Channels[1] |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| States | Queensland, New South Wales |
| Region | South West Queensland, Far West, New South Wales |
| Length | 1,210 km (750 mi) |
| Discharge1 avg | 15 m3/s (530 cu ft/s) |
| Source 1 | Mariala National Park |
| Source1 location | west of Augathella, Queensland |
| Source1 coordinates | 26°07′56″S 145°10′39″E |
| Source1 elevation | 336 m (1,102 ft) |
| Mouth | confluence with the Darling River in wetter seasons |
| Mouth location | north of White Cliffs, New South Wales |
| Mouth coordinates | 31°33′30″S 143°27′08″E |
| Mouth elevation | 94 m (308 ft) |
| River system | Darling River catchment, Murray–Darling basin |
| Custom label | Reservoirs |
| Custom data | Buckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole |
| Extra | [2] |
The Paroo River, a series of waterholes, connected in wet weather as a running stream of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West region of Queensland and Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Paarkantji people.
Paroo is the local Aboriginal word for the bony bream fish, which are common in the river.[3]
Course and features
The river rises in the gorge country of western Queensland south of the Mariala National Park, and flows generally south and spreads into the vast floodplains of New South Wales, eventually reaching the Paroo overflow lakes. Most commonly, the Paroo River terminates on the floodplain south of Wanaaring; and only reaches the Darling River in the wettest of years,[4] otherwise spilling into the Paroo River Wetlands. The river is joined by forty-three minor tributaries; as it descends 242 metres (794 ft) over its 1,210-kilometre (750-mile) course.[2]
The Paroo River is the last remaining free-flowing river in the northern part of the Murray-Darling basin,[5] and is impounded by the natural formation of the Buckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole.[2]
Wetlands
The Paroo River wetlands in north-western New South Wales are important for threatened species such as the freckled duck and the Australian painted snipe. The wetlands lie within the Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance, when conditions are suitable, for large numbers of waterbirds.[6]
On 20 September 2007, Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, announced that the Paroo River Wetlands in north-west New South Wales would be listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance, making them Australia's 65th Ramsar site.[5]
Cultural references
Henry Lawson described the ephemeral nature of the Paroo River in a poem, "The Paroo 'River'" (1894):
But soon he saw a strip of ground
That crossed the track we followed—
No barer than the surface round
But just a little hollowed.[7]
See also
References
- ^
- ^ "Map of Paroo River". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ "The Story of John Conrick, Pioneer". The News. Vol. I, no. 12. 6 August 1923. p. 10 (Home Edition). Retrieved 15 July 2023. – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Paroo catchment". Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. Commonwealth of Australia. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ Turnbull, Malcolm (20 September 2007). "Outback NSW westland internationally recognised". Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ "IBA: Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya". Birdata. Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Lawson, Henry (1894). "The Paroo 'River'". The Bulletin. 14 (743): 2. Archived 21 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 June 2025. – via TROVE.