Molonglo River

The river rises on the western side of the Great Dividing Range, in Tallaganda State Forest at {{convert|1130|m}} and flows generally from south to north before turning north-west, through Carwoola and the outskirts of Queanbeyan, where it has confluence with its major tributary, the Queanbeyan River, and then continues through Canberra, where it has been dammed by the Scrivener Dam to form Lake Burley Griffin. The river then flows to its confluence with the Murrumbidgee River, near Uriarra Crossing. Over its {{convert|115|km}} course, the Molonglo River alternates several times between long broad floodplains and narrow rocky gorges. One of the floodplains is called the Molonglo Plain.

From source to mouth, the river is traversed by the Captains Flat Road at {{NSWcity|Captains Flat}}, Briars-Sharrow Road in Carwoola, the Kings Highway between Queanbeyan and {{NSWcity|Bungendore}}, the Yass Road, north of Queanbeyan, the Monaro Highway at {{ACTcity|Pialligo}}, the Commonwealth and Kings Avenues as Lake Burley Griffin between {{ACTcity|Parkes}} and {{ACTcity|Acton}}, Lady Denman Drive at Scrivener Dam, and the Tuggeranong Parkway south of the Glenloch Interchange.

Image:MolongloRiver1920.jpg in 1920]]

The river's name was recorded as the "Yeal-am-bid-gie" in 1820 by the explorer Charles Throsby.{{cite book |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |title=Official Yearbook of the Commonwealth of Australia |number=24 |year=1931 |page=456 }} This was probably the collective local Moolinggolah name for the river. (The suffix "bidgee" was common in Aboriginal languages for rivers in the Canberra area and presumably means "water" or "river".) The Moolinggolah people of the district around Captains Flat probably gave the Molonglo its name.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Where the river flowed through what is now Canberra, it was probably known after the Ngambri people, transcribed as Kembury, Canberry, and other transcription variations.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} The word molongolo is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "like the sound of thunder".{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/__data/print_to_pdf.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elections.act.gov.au%2Felectoral_boundaries%2Felectorates%2Felectorates_2012_election%3FSQ_DESIGN_NAME%3Dpdf%26SQ_PAINT_LAYOUT_NAME%3Dpdf |publisher=Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission |year=c. 2012 |title=Electoral boundaries |work=Electorates: 2012 election |access-date=15 February 2013}}

The first name given to the River by Westerners was Limestone River, Subsequently, in the early years of European settlement both the Molonglo and the Queanbeyan were known as the "Fish River" for the abundance of native fish in them. The Molonglo was renowned as a beautiful river with excellent fishing for native Murray cod, Macquarie perch and silver perch. This abundance of native fish did not last. Upon commencement of mining operations at Captains Flat (and contrary to NSW Government assurances), mine tailings continually severely polluted the river, including several mass tailings collapses into the river between the 1930s and 1950s, eradicating all native fish and most other aquatic life downstream from the site. Despite government funded rehabilitation programs in 1976, some toxic leachates still enter the river from the Captain's Flat mine site.{{cite book |author=Lintermans, M |year=2000 |title=The Status of Fish in the Australian Capital Territory: A Review of Current Knowledge and Management Requirements. Technical Report No. 15 |publisher=Environment ACT |location=Canberra }}

Consequently, when Lake Burley Griffin was built upon the Molonglo and filled in 1964, the waters were devoid of native fish. Restocking commenced in the 1970s and continued through 1980s have re-established Murray Cod and Golden Perch in the lake and a short stretch of river upstream. A large stretch of the Molonglo still holds nothing but introduced fish species and is still waiting for the native fish species to be re-established by stockings.File:Molonglo River from Barrer Circuit Trailhead.jpg, Wright and Denman Prospect are viewable (L to R) against the backdrop of Mount Stromlo and the Tidbinbilla mountain range.]]

Significant natural restoration work has been undertaken downstream of Scrivener Dam in conjunction with the housing development in the Molonglo Valley during the 2010s.{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/environmental-offsets/connections-with-rivers/molonglo-valley-offset-areas |title=Molonglo Valley offset areas - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment |website=www.environment.act.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309132643/http://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/environmental-offsets/connections-with-rivers/molonglo-valley-offset-areas |archive-date=2017-03-09}} In February 2024, construction began on a 200-metre-long bridge connecting Whitlam with the Molonglo Valley. It is expected to be completed in December 2025.{{Cite web |last=Vikhrov |first=Natalie |date=2024-02-26 |title=Construction starts on Molonglo River bridge |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8536164/construction-starts-on-molonglo-river-bridge/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}

{{Stack|{{Portal|New South Wales|Australia}}}}

• History of Lake Burley Griffin
• List of rivers of Australia
• London Bridge (New South Wales)
• Rivers of New South Wales
• Scott's Crossing Road

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Molonglo River}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/Murrumbidgee/maplg.htm|title=Murrumbidgee and Lake George catchments|format=map|work=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=Government of New South Wales}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.molonglocatchment.com.au/Documents/Catchment_Strategy/MCS_2005.pdf |date=May 2005 |title=Molonglo Catchment Strategy: 2004-2024 |publisher=Molonglo Catchment Group Inc. |access-date=15 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410073654/http://molonglocatchment.com.au/Documents/Catchment_Strategy/MCS_2005.pdf |archive-date=10 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}

{{Rivers of the Murrumbidgee River catchment |state=autocollapse}}

{{Rivers of New South Wales |state=autocollapse}}

{{Rivers of the Australian Capital Territory |state=autocollapse}}

Category:Rivers of the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Rivers of New South Wales

Category:Tributaries of the Murrumbidgee River

Category:Borders of the Australian Capital Territory