Olive River

{{Short description|River in Queensland, Australia}}

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

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

{{Infobox river

| name = Olive

| name_native =

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| image =

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| pushpin_map = Australia Queensland

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| pushpin_map_caption= Location of Olive River mouth in Queensland

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Australia

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = Queensland

| subdivision_type3 = Region

| subdivision_name3 = Far North Queensland, Cape York Peninsula

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| length = {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}}

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| discharge1_location= Near mouth

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg = {{cvt|44.7|m3/s|GL/yr|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/MAPS/AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIA%20NE%20COAST_EAST/index.html|title=East Coastal Watersheds}}

| discharge1_max =

| source1 = Richardson Range, Great Dividing Range

| source1_location = in remote country

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|12|07|53|S|142|46|41|E|display=inline}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|55|m|abbr=on}}

| mouth = Temple Bay, Coral Sea

| mouth_location = north of {{QLDcity|Lockhart River}}

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|12|10|12|S|143|05|49|E|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}

| progression =

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| basin_size = {{cvt|2,056|km2|abbr=on}} to {{cvt|1,701.6|km2|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/MAPS/AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIA%20NE%20COAST_EAST/index.html|title=East Coastal Watersheds}}

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| extra = {{cite web|url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=207704&cmd=sp|title=Map of Olive River, QLD|access-date=1 August 2015|work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia}}

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The Olive River is a river in the Cape York Peninsula of Far North Queensland, Australia.

The headwaters of the river rise in the Richardson Range, part of the Great Dividing Range, on the Cape York Peninsula. The river initially flows south-easterly and then veers north east and continues across the mostly uninhabited coastal plain and then white sand dunes eventually discharging into Temple Bay and the Coral Sea, north of {{QLDcity|Lockhart River}}. The river descends {{convert|55|m}} over its {{convert|70|km|adj=on}} course.

The river has a catchment area of {{convert|2056|km2|sqmi|0}} of which an area of {{convert|43|km2|sqmi|0}} is composed of estuarine wetlands.{{cite web|url=http://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/sub-basin-olive-river/|title=Olive River drainage basin|access-date=1 August 2015|work=WetlandInfo|publisher=Queensland Government}}

The traditional owners of the area are the Wuthahti and Kuuku Ya’u peoples, who maintain strong spiritual connections with their country. In 2009 the Federal Court granted native title rights over {{convert|1980|km2}} of land and waters north of the town of Lockhart River and north to the mouth of the Olive River, inclusive of part of the Wuthara Island National Park, the Mitirinchi Island National Park and the Piper Islands National Park.{{cite web |url=http://www.nntt.gov.au/Information%20Publications/Determination%20brochure%20Kuuku%20Yau%20June%202009.pdf |title=Kuuku Ya’u People’s native title determination |work=National Native Title Tribunal |publisher=Australian Government |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=31 October 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.wilderness.org.au/olive-river|title=Olive River|access-date=1 August 2015|publisher=The Wilderness Society}} The area was visited by {{HMQS|Paluma}} as part of a hydrographic survey conducted by the Admiralty in 1893 it is thought to either have been named after a mayor of Cooktown{{cite QPN|25313|Olive River|access-date=1 August 2015}} or the characteristic tea-coloured water in the river.

The riparian vegetation are home to many species only found on Cape York Peninsula including the threatened cycad plant, Cycas silvestris.