| Colo | |
|---|---|
 King Rapids on the Colo River inWollemi National Park, 2010. | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Sydney Basin (IBRA),Central Tablelands,Blue Mountains |
| Municipalities | Lithgow,Hawkesbury |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Capertee River |
| 2nd source | Wolgan River |
| Source confluence | |
| • location | northeast ofNewnes |
| • coordinates | 33°12′19″S150°27′55″E / 33.205392°S 150.465187°E /-33.205392; 150.465187 |
| • elevation | 218 m (715 ft) |
| Mouth | confluence with theHawkesbury River |
• location | nearLower Portland |
• coordinates | 33°26′15″S150°53′11″E / 33.437452°S 150.886294°E /-33.437452; 150.886294 |
• elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Length | 86 km (53 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Wollemi Creek, Dooli Creek, Angorawa Creek |
| • right | Tambo Creek, Main Creek (New South Wales),Wollangambe River, Blacksmiths Creek (New South Wales), Gospers Creek |
| Bridges | unnamed (Putty Road ) |
| National parks | Blue Mountains NP,Wollemi NP |
| [1] | |
TheColo River, aperennial stream[2][3] that is part of theHawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in theCentral Tablelands ofNew South Wales,Australia.
The Colo River rises on theGreat Dividing Range, northeast ofNewnes, formed by theconfluence of theWolgan River and theCapertee River, which respectively drain theWolgan andCapertee Valleys north ofLithgow. Colo River flows eastwards and then south through a deep gorge in the northern section of theBlue Mountains. The majority of the river lies inWollemi National Park. The middle Colo is inaccessible, rugged and remote. The wilderness was saved from development, logging and damming in the late 1970s by the Colo Wilderness Preservation Society and other environmentalists. Emerging from the wilderness region, the lower part of the Colo River flows through a scenic, narrow agricultural valley and reaches theHawkesbury River atLower Portland north ofWindsor. Tributaries of the Colo include theWollangambe River andWollemi Creek. The river descends 214 metres (702 ft) over its 86-kilometre (53 mi)course.[1]
AtColo, the river is crossed by thePutty Road (B84).
Parts of the area surrounding the river, including both theBlue Mountains National Park and the Wollemi National Park have receivedWorld Heritage listing, due in part to the discovery of theWollemi Pine, often described as a 'living fossil' from the age of the dinosaurs. The Colo River gorge contains many boulder-rapids that alternate with deep pools. Even though this area is relatively close to theSydney metropolitan area, the Colo River flows through the largest wilderness area in New South Wales. Local volunteer bush regeneration groups such as the "Friends of the Colo" have been helping eradicate invasive exotic weeds in the area surrounding the river.[citation needed]
The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Colo River are theAustralian Aboriginal peoples of theDarug nation.[4]
The area of the lower Colo River was first explored by Europeans in June 1789 byGovernor Phillip and settlement commenced from the early 1800s vialand grants, that were significantly expanded from 1833. The Colo River was an important transport corridor in the period before motor vehicles, with produce and goods transported down the Hawkesbury River to Sydney.[4]
Bushwalking, canoeing, fishing, and accommodation retreats are all popular recreation activities along various parts of the Colo River.
Hawkesbury River region, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islands | |||||||||
| National parks andnature reserves | |||||||||
| European explorers of the region | |||||||||
| Bridges andferries |
| ||||||||
| Adjoining rivers,bays, reservoirs, andcreeks |
| ||||||||
| Local government areas | |||||||||
| Education | |||||||||
| Major attractions | |||||||||
