Gascoyne River

The Gascoyne River comprises three branches in its upper reaches. Draining the Collier Range, the river rises as the Gascoyne River (North Branch) on Three Rivers Station near the Great Northern Highway, {{convert|100|km|mi|0}} northeast of Peak Hill and flows for approximately {{convert|125|km}}. The Gascoyne River (Middle Branch) rises west of Beyondie Lakes, east of {{WAcity|Kumarina}} and east of the Great Northern Highway and flows for approximately {{convert|15|km}}. The Gascoyne River (South Branch) rises near the Doolgunna homestead and flows for approximately {{convert|15|km}}.

The Gascoyne flows generally west by south-west and is joined by 36 tributaries, including the Lyons River, Landor River, Thomas River, and numerous other creeks and gullies. The two main rivers, the Gascoyne and Lyons together provide a catchment area of {{convert|68326|km2}} that lies entirely to the east of the Kennedy Ranges and extends some {{convert|480|km|mi|0}} inland. The river reaches its mouth as it flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at {{WAcity|Carnarvon}}. The river descends {{convert|514|m}} over its {{convert|865|km|adj=on}} course.

It is said to be an "upside-down river", because it flows for about 120 days of the year and below the dry river bed for the remainder of the year. It is, in effect, a huge water storage system with the river aquifer lying below the desert sands.

The Gascoyne flows through sparsely vegetated countryside which is used mainly for gold mining, and sheep and cattle grazing. It includes many permanent pools that are valuable to both stock and native species. Some of the main pools located along the river include Tibbingoona Pool, Mutherbokin Pool and Mibbley Pool.

The extensive catchment of the Gascoyne River means that it flows through the country of a number of Aboriginal peoples, the principal ones being the Baiyungu, Yinggarda, Thudgari, Malgana and Wajarri.{{cite web |title=Aboriginal Culture |url=https://www.gdc.wa.gov.au/our-region/aboriginal-culture.aspx |publisher=Gascoyne Development Commission |access-date=2024-03-15}}

The first Europeans to see the river, on 4 March 1839, were a party led by the explorer Lieutenant George Grey, who named the river after a friend, Captain John Gascoyne RN,{{cite book |last1=Grey |first1=George |title=Journals of two expeditions of discovery in North-West and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, describing many newly discovered, important, and fertile districts, with observations on the moral and physical condition of the aboriginal inhabitants, etc. etc. |volume=1 |publisher=T. and W. Boone |year=1841 |location=London |page=349 |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16027/16027.txt |access-date=2012-03-17}} son of Bamber Gascoyne, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. Captain Gascoyne was a committee member of the London-based Western Australian Missionary Society and a member of the London Association for the Protection of the Interests of the Colony.{{cite news | title = From a private correspondent | date = 2 July 1836 | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article640395 | work = The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal | pages = 720–721 | access-date = 9 May 2012}}

From mid 1909 to early 1913, the area had three dry years, with the Gascoyne River not running for any of that time, and Carnarvon had water supply problems as a result.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75076649 |title=River past Doorawarrah |newspaper=The Northern Times |location=Carnarvon, Western Australia |date=1 February 1913 |access-date=17 December 2013 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The most severe flooding of the Gascoyne River occurred in December 2010.{{cite news|author=Macqueen, Cristy-Lee |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=4 February 2011 |access-date=16 February 2011 |title=Survival, recovery and Aussie spirit-Gascoyne locals share their stories |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/02/04/3129867.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709053942/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/02/04/3129867.htm |archive-date=9 July 2019 |df=dmy }} Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, amounting to over 6,000 percent of the monthly mean, {{convert|313.6|mm}} and {{convert|5|mm}} respectively, in just four days, the floods caused widespread damage in the region. The water reached record levels at three stations along the river, cresting at {{convert|15.53|m|0}} near Fishy Pool.

Evacuation orders were issued for several towns affected by rising waters. The most substantial impact was felt in Carnarvon where entire homes were washed away. Following the disaster, emergency supplies and funds were distributed to affected residents to aid in restoring their livelihoods. Though no people died, an estimated two thousand head of cattle perished, and damage was estimated at {{AUD}}100 million.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-12-21/massive-damage-from-worst-ever-floods/2381760 |title=Massive damage from worst ever floods |date=21 December 2010 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=23 September 2015 }} The size of the flood, and the region it affected, created widespread problems.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-12-21/government-warned-about-flood-potential/2382150 |title=Government warned about flood potential |date=21 December 2010 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=23 September 2015 }}

In March 2015, Cyclone Olwyn affected the Gascoyne River and caused the most severe flooding since 2010.{{Cite news |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/health-fears-as-carnarvon-counts-the-cost-of-tropical-cyclone-olwyn/story-fnhocxo3-1227263581764 |title=Health fears as Carnarvon counts the cost of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn |access-date=22 March 2015 |date=15 March 2014 |work=Perth Now |archive-date=15 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315184224/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/health-fears-as-carnarvon-counts-the-cost-of-tropical-cyclone-olwyn/story-fnhocxo3-1227263581764 |url-status=dead }}

Rocky Pool - Gascoyne River - panoramio.jpg|Rocky Pool, Gascoyne River, April 2006

Gascoyne River - April 2006 - panoramio.jpg|Gascoyne River in flood, April 2006

Dry Gascoyne River Bed - panoramio.jpg|Dry Gascoyne riverbed, July 2005

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Category:Rivers of the Gascoyne region