Pimpama River
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Pimpama
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| image = Pimpama River 2.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = The Pimpama River at {{QLDcity|Pimpama}}, 2014
| map =
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| pushpin_map = Australia Queensland
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Pimpama River river mouth in Queensland
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Australia
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Queensland
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = South East Queensland
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 = Local government area
| subdivision_name5 = City of Gold Coast
| length = {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}}
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| source1 = Darlington Range
| source1_location = west of {{QLDcity|Willow Vale}}
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|27|49|14|S|153|13|59|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|350|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Tipplers Passage
| mouth_location = south of {{QLDcity|Jacobs Well}}
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|27|47|54|S|153|21|49|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system = Gold Coast Broadwater
| basin_size = {{convert|489|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right = Hotham Creek, McCoys Creek
| custom_label = National park
| custom_data = Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park
| extra = {{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=205179&cmd=sp |title=Map of Pimpama River, QLD |access-date=28 September 2015 |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829073418/http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=205179&cmd=sp |archivedate=29 August 2016 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=6508 |title=Pimpama River Catchment & Stormwater Management Plan |author1=Groth, D. |author2=Hunter, E. |date=28 January 2010 |publisher=Gold Coast City Council |access-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610032111/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=6508 |archivedate=10 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
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The Pimpama River is a perennial river in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. Its catchment lies within the Gold Coast local government area and covers an area of {{convert|171|km2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.healthywaterways.org/EcosystemHealthMonitoringProgram/2010ReportCardResults/CatchmentResults/SouthernCatchments/Pimpama/CoomeraRiversCatchmentandEstuary.aspx |title=Pimpama/Coomera Rivers Catchment and Estuary |date=2011 |publisher=HealthyWaterways |access-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321042522/http://www.healthywaterways.org/EcosystemHealthMonitoringProgram/2010ReportCardResults/CatchmentResults/SouthernCatchments/Pimpama/CoomeraRiversCatchmentandEstuary.aspx |archivedate=21 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
Course and features
The Pimpama River rises in the Darlington Range on the north-western slopes of Wongawallan Mountain, west of {{QLDcity|Willow Vale}} in the Gold Coast hinterland. The river flows generally north-easterly, joined by two minor tributaries before emptying into Tipplers Passage where it is joined by the North Branch of the Coomera River in the Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park and south of Woogoompah Island. From here the river forms its confluence with the Broadwater, part of the southern Moreton Bay and enters the Coral Sea either south or north of South Stradbroke Island.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
The catchment area of the Pimpama River is bounded by the Logan and Albert rivers catchment to the north, the Coomera River catchment to the south and the Broadwater in the east. The name of the river was the source for the naming of nearby {{QLDcity|Pimpama}}. The Pacific Motorway crosses the river between {{QLDcity|Kingsholme}} and {{QLDcity|Ormeau}}. The Gold Coast railway line crosses to the east between Pimpama and Ormeau.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
A conservation area is located on the southern bank of the river at its junction with Moreton Bay, bordering the Southern Moreton Bay Island National Park and the Ramsar wetland site.{{cite web|title=Australia's Ramsar Sites|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/australias-ramsar-sites|publisher=Department of the Environment, Australian Government|access-date=5 December 2013|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208034226/http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/australias-ramsar-sites|archivedate=8 December 2013|df=dmy-all}} The Pimpama River wetlands has mangroves, saltmarshs and marine flats providing protected breeding grounds for marine species including four frog species and the vulnerable false water rat (Xeromys myoides). The wetlands are an important conservation area for a recorded 184 species of native plants, 134 vertebrate fauna species including 13 species of mammals, 108 species of birds and nine species of reptiles.{{cite web|title=Pimpama River Conservation Area|url=http://www.gcparks.com.au/park-details.aspx?park=1781|publisher=Gold Coast Parks|access-date=5 December 2013|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212021319/http://www.gcparks.com.au/park-details.aspx?park=1781|archivedate=12 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}
History
Like most other coastal rivers in the region, the river was used to transport timber cut during the 19th century. The fertile delta area of the river centered on {{QLDcity|Jacobs Well}} was home to a thriving arrowroot crop. Growing sugarcane has become the area's main land use.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
A bridge was first constructed over the Pimpama River between late 1871 and early 1872 by John Thomas Brigg.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27270992 |title=Signs of Progress. |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Qld. |date=18 May 1872 |access-date=16 September 2011 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1333222 |title=Official Notifications. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=9 October 1871 |access-date=16 September 2011 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
In 2015, the remains of Tiahleigh Palmer were found in the river.{{Cite web|publisher=ABC|title=Timeline: The discovery of Tiahleigh Palmer's body and investigation into her suspected murder|date=7 December 2015|access-date=22 December 2015|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-13/timeline-on-tiahleigh-palmer-suspected-murder/6926556|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225172817/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-13/timeline-on-tiahleigh-palmer-suspected-murder/6926556|archivedate=25 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Water|Environment|Queensland}}}}
- {{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|Queensland}}