Howqua
The Howqua River, upstream of the Howqua Inlet and the settlement of Howqua, in 2012
Location of the Howqua Rivermouth inVictoria
Etymology	multiple possible derivations[1]
Native name	Pyerlite (Daungwurrung)[2]
Location
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	Alpinebioregion (IBRA),Victorian Alps
Local government area	Shire of Mansfield
Physical characteristics
Source	Victorian Alps,Great Dividing Range
• location	belowMount Howitt
• coordinates	37°10′43″S146°37′46″E / 37.17861°S 146.62944°E /-37.17861; 146.62944
• elevation	1,680 m (5,510 ft)
Mouth	confluence with theGoulburn River
• location	Lake Eildon
• coordinates	37°13′48″S146°5′54″E / 37.23000°S 146.09833°E /-37.23000; 146.09833
• elevation	265 m (869 ft)
Length	65.6 km (40.8 mi)
Discharge
• location	lake
Basin features
River system	GoulburnBroken catchment, Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries
• left	Lickhole Creek
• right	Black Dog Creek, Little Buller Creek,Stockyard Creek, Dungeon Gully Creek
National park	Alpine National Park
[3]

TheHowqua River, a minor inlandperennial river of theGoulburnBroken catchment, part of theMurray-Darling basin, is located in theAlpine region of theAustralian state ofVictoria. The headwaters of the Howqua River rise belowMount Howitt in the western slopes of theVictorian Alps, and descend to flow into theGoulburn River withinLake Eildon.

The river rises below Mount Howitt on the western slopes of the Victorian Alps, within theAlpine National Park in theShire of Mansfield. The river flow generally west, joined by five minor tributaries, before reaching itsconfluence with the Goulburn River within Lake Eildon, created by the Eildon Weir. The river descends 1,410 metres (4,630 ft) over its 66-kilometre (41 mi)course.^[3]

The Howqua valley was seasonally occupied by theTaungurung people with the valley being a major route for trade or war between tribes in the area.^[4] The Howqua River valley contains a number of archaeological sites of significance including at least two quarry sites forgreenstone, an exceptionally hard rock used for stone axes, spears and other cutting tools which the Taungurung traded with other tribes.^[5]

The character of Billy Slim inNevil Shute's 1952 novelThe Far Country was based on Fred Fry, a notable fly fisherman, who constructed several huts along the Howqua River and eked out a quiet existence in the river valley.^[6]

The Howqua River was one of just thirteen locations worldwide featured on thefly fishing documentary television seriesA River Somewhere.^[7]

In the AboriginalWoiwurrung andTaungurung languages, the river is namedPyerlite, with no clearly defined meaning.^[2]

There are four possible origins of the river's current name:^[1][8]

• after John "Howka" Hunter (1820–68), apastoralist
• aportmanteau name from Mount Howitt, where the river rises, andaqua
• afterHowqua, the namesake of a popular brand of Chinese tea in the early nineteenth century
• after Akin Howqua (Ah Kin Wowqua), a Chinese surveyor and early resident of Melbourne

• List of rivers of Australia § Victoria
• Tunnel Bend diversion tunnel, Howqua River

• Goulburn Broken catchment
• Rivers of Hume (region)
• Tributaries of the Murray River
• Tributaries of the Goulburn River
• Alpine National Park

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• Articles containing Daungwurrung-language text
• Coordinates on Wikidata