Pieman River
{{Short description|River in western Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Pieman
| native_name = {{native name|xpw|Corinna}}
| name_other =
| name_etymology = Thomas Kent
| image = Pieman River.jpg
| image_size = 280
| image_caption = The Pieman River
| map =
| map_size = 280
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Australia Tasmania
| pushpin_map_size = 280
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Pieman River mouth in Tasmania
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Australia
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Tasmania
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = West Coast
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =
| length = {{convert|26|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max =
| source1 =
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation =
| source_confluence = Mackintosh River and Murchison River
| source_confluence_location = below {{TAScity|Tullah}}
| source_confluence_coordinates=
| source_confluence_elevation = {{convert|191|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Hardwicke Bay
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|41|40|13|S|144|55|9|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| waterfalls =
| river_system =
| basin_size =
| tributaries_left = Ring River, Stitt River, Heemskirk River
| tributaries_right = Marionoak River, Wilson River (Tasmania), Huskisson River, Stanley River (Tasmania), Paradise River (Tasmania), Owen Meredith River, Savage River (Tasmania), Whyte River, Donaldson River (Tasmania)
| custom_label = Reservoir
| custom_data = Lake Rosebury, Lake Pieman
}}
The Pieman River is a major perennial river located in the west coast region of Tasmania, Australia.
Course and features
Formed by the confluence of the Mackintosh River and Murchison River, the Pieman River rises in what is now known as Lake Rosebury, an artificial lake formed by the Bastyan Dam. The river flows generally west and northwest and then west again, joined by 21 tributaries including the Mackintosh, Murchison, Marionoak, Ring, Wilson, Stitt, Huskisson, Stanley, Heemskirk, Paradise, Owen Meredith, Savage, Whyte and Donaldson rivers before emptying into Hardwicke Bay and reaching its mouth in the Southern Ocean. The river descends {{convert|191|m}} over its {{convert|100|km|adj=on}} course.
The river is impounded at Bastyan by the Bastyan Dam (and adjacent hydroelectric power station) to form Lake Rosebury; and at Reece by the Reece Dam (and adjacent hydroelectric power station) to form Lake Pieman. Both reservoir and power stations from part of the Hydro Tasmania-operated Pieman River Power Development. The construction of the power development scheme also altered the route of the Emu Bay Railway, and submerged a variety of rail heritage sites in the vicinity of the river, notably parts of the Wee Georgie Wood Railway or North Farrell Tramway line.{{cite book| author=Rae, Lou| title=The Emu Bay Railway| year=1997| isbn=0-9592098-6-7}}{{cite book| author=Atkinson, H.K.| title=Railway Tickets of Tasmania| year=1991| isbn=0-9598718-7-X}}{{cite book| publisher=Traction Publications| title=Along the Line in Tasmania. Book 2. Private Lines| year=1972| isbn=0-85829-003-0}}
Etymology
The Aboriginal Tasmanians knew the river as Corinna, which is the Peerapper word for the thylacine.{{Citation | author1=Plomley, N. J. B. (Norman James Brian) | author2=Goodall, Caroline, (compiler.) | author3=Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (Launceston, Tas.), (issuing body.) | title=Tasmanian Aboriginal place names | publication-date=1990 | publisher=Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11261118 | access-date=5 August 2019 }}
The once-common suggestion that the river's English name comes from a convict "The Pieman" Alexander Pearce who was responsible for one of the few recorded instances of cannibalism in Australia, is not correct. "The Pieman" was in fact Thomas Kent of Southampton, a pastry-cook who was transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1816. After a long series of offences in the colony, he was sent to the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station in 1822 but subsequently escaped, and was recaptured near the mouth of the river which now bears his nickname.{{cite book| author=Sprod, Dan| title=Alexander Pearce of Macquarie Harbour| year=1977| publisher=Cat & Fiddle Press|isbn=0-85853-031-7 |pages=106–18}} The river has significant timber, mining and industrial heritage along its shores.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Renewable energy|Water}}}}
- {{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|Tasmania}}
References
{{reflist}}
Maps
- {{cite map |location=Tasmania |publisher=Hydro-Electric Commission |work=Survey Section |date=1982 |title=Pieman River power development map. Tourist map on orthophoto base, showing power developments, for the area Corinna-Lake Mackintosh-Trial Harbour. Includes power stations, tourist facilities, and historical notes |type=cartographic material, reproduction |edition=1 |scale=1:60 000 |section=E 145°05'--E 145°46'/S 41°37'--S 42°00' }}
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Pieman+Catchment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204133432/http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Pieman+Catchment/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-12-04 |title=The Pieman Catchment |publisher=Hydro Tasmania }}
{{Rivers of Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
{{Western Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}