Minilya River
{{Short description|River in Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Minilya
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology = Aboriginal: meaning unknown
| image =
| image_size = 280
| image_caption =
| map =
| map_size =
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Australia
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Western Australia
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Gascoyne
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =
| length_km = 269
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location = Minilya Bridge
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|45,652|ML/yr|cuft/yr|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max =
| source1 = Black Range (Western Australia)
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|23|57|53|S|115|27|11|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|275|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Lake MacLeod
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|23|56|37|S|113|51|25|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size_km2 = 52662
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right =
| custom_label = National park
| custom_data =
| extra = {{cite web|url=http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=211612&cmd=sp |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |title=Map of Minilya River, WA |year=2008 |access-date=6 February 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/wa/basin-lyndonminilya-rivers.html|title=Water Resources Overview|work=Australian Natural Resources Atlas|year=2009|access-date=10 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004205833/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/wa/basin-lyndonminilya-rivers.html|archive-date=4 October 2009|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://kumina.water.wa.gov.au/waterinformation/telem/705001/mtl.htm|title=River Monitoring Stations – Minilya River|work=Department of Water|publisher=Government of Western Australia|year=2010|access-date=6 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003212102/http://kumina.water.wa.gov.au/waterinformation/telem/705001/mtl.htm|archive-date=3 October 2009|df=dmy-all}}
}}
The Minilya River is a river in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
Location and features
The headwaters of the river rise in the south-west of the Black Range and flows in a generally westerly direction, joined by three minor tributaries: Minilya River South, Bee Well Creek and Naughton Creek. The river is crossed by the North West Coastal Highway near the Minilya Roadhouse and then later discharges into Lake MacLeod. The area is semi-arid with a landscape of woodland and scrub used for sheep and cattle grazing. The Minilya River descends {{convert|278|m}} over its {{convert|269|km|adj=on}} course.
The name of the river is Aboriginal in origin but its meaning is unknown. The first Europeans to visit the river were the explorers who named it, Charles Brockman and George Hamersley, who visited the area in 1876.{{LandInfo WA|r|M|6 June 2010}} Brockman and Hamersley also named the Lyndon River and Brockman later took up a {{convert|40000|acre|ha|0}} lease known as Boolathana then another property, Minilya Station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32851411 |title=Pioneers of the Gascoyne |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=9 February 1935 |access-date=28 September 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
The traditional owners of the area are the Tharrkari and Baiyungu peoples.{{cite web|url=http://www.ausanthrop.net/resources/ausanthrop_db/detail.php?id_search=29|title=Ausanthrop – Australian Aboriginal Tribal Database|year=2010|access-date=6 June 2010}}
The soils throughout the river basin are eroded and the regional ecology is degraded as a result of cattle grazing from the numerous pastoral stations found through the area. As a result, fencing has been installed through the length of the river, water tanks and troughs installed and establishment of new grazing yards.{{cite web|url=http://www.rangelandswa.com.au/files/7/files/Case_Study_LyndonMinilyaBasin.pdf|title=Rangelands – Case Study – Protection and Conservation of the Minilya/Lyndon River Basin|year=2008|access-date=10 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002071140/http://www.rangelandswa.com.au/files/7/files/Case_Study_LyndonMinilyaBasin.pdf|archive-date=2 October 2009|df=dmy-all}}
The Minilya is prone to occasional flooding following heavy rain events as it did in 1905.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83014987 |title=Heavy rain in the north |newspaper=The Daily News |location=Perth |date=27 December 1905 |access-date=28 September 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} More flooding occurred 1918 when Minilya Station recorded {{convert|7.58|in|mm|0}} in just over two months isolating the homestead.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75539189 |title=Minilya Station |newspaper=The Northern Times |location=Carnarvon, Western Australia |date=9 March 1918 |access-date=28 September 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Further flooding occurred in 1942 with many station homesteads being left isolated.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78576387 |title=Carnarvon Isolated. |newspaper=The Daily News |location=Perth |date=10 February 1942 |access-date=28 September 2013 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
See also
{{stack|{{portal|Western Australia}}}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rivers of Western Australia}}
Category:Rivers of the Gascoyne region
{{WesternAustralia-river-stub}}