Manning River (Biripi:Boolumbahtee[1]), an open andtrained maturewave dominatedbarrier estuary,[5] is located in theNorthern Tablelands andMid North Coast districts ofNew South Wales, Australia. It is the only double delta river in the southern hemisphere in which there are two permanent entrances to the river, one atOld Bar and another atHarrington, and is famously one of only two rivers in the world to have permanent multiple entrances with the other being theNile river in Egypt.[6]
Manning River rises belowMount Barrington, on the northeastern slopes of theGreat Dividing Range withinBarrington Tops National Park, east southeast ofEllerston, and flows generally southeast, joined by eleventributaries including thePigna Barney,Barnard,Nowendoc,Gloucester,Dawson, andLansdowne rivers, descending 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) over its 261-kilometre (162 mi)course from the high upper reaches, through the Manning Valley, and out to sea.[4]
The river flows past the towns ofWingham andTaree. At Taree, the river splits and becomes adouble delta. The southern arm reaches itsmouth at theTasman Sea of theSouth Pacific Ocean, nearOld Bar. The northern arm is joined by the Dawson River and further downstream the Lansdowne River, reaching its mouth at the Tasman Sea, nearHarrington Point; creating two separate entrances to the river: Harrington Inlet (north) and Farquhar Inlet (south). Within the delta there are several channels dividing coastal land into large islands, such asMitchells and Oxley islands.BetweenCroki (in the north) and Cabbage Tree Island east ofBohnock (in the south), Scotts Creek links both the northern and southern passages of the river.
The Manning River is one of Australia's few large river systems that have not beendammed for water supply purposes anywhere along its catchment. The local water supply is fed by Bootawa Dam, which is an offsite dam, however, water is pumped from the river to the dam whenever river turbidity and flow levels can allow. A smallweir is located in the upper reaches of the Barnard River, part of theinter-basin water transfer of theBarnard River Scheme, enabling water to be pumped into theHunter River to meet the cooling needs ofBayswater andLiddellelectricpower stations.[7][8][9] The scheme is shut down until needed but as of 2006 this scheme was partly decommissioned due to its rare use.[citation needed]
The Manning River is one of only a few Australian mainland rivers to receive annual winter melting snow deposits.[citation needed]
The Manning River is crossed by thePacific Highway at two bridges: the Ella Simon Bridge[10] near Taree, spanning the southern channel, and the Henry “Hawkeye” Edwards Bridge atCundletown, spanning the northern channel. The river is also crossed by theNorth Coast railway line at the heritage-listedManning River railway bridge atMount George.
The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Manning River and its associated valley are theAustralian AboriginalBiripi,[11] who named the river asBoolumbahtee, meaning a place where thebrolgas played.[1]
In 1818,John Oxley crossed and named Harrington and Farquhar inlets during a trip from theHastings River, nearPort Macquarie, toPort Stephens. The Manning River itself was first surveyed byHenry Dangar in 1825 and again in 1826 on behalf of theAustralian Agricultural Company. Later in 1826, the river was named the Manning River byRobert Dawson for the Deputy Governor of the Australian Agricultural Company,William Manning.[12] In the same year it was declared that the Manning was the northern limit of theNineteen Counties, defining the areas of New South Wales where settlers were free to occupy.
Until 1913, ships servicing the coast brought goods and supplies up the river. Before modern roads were built, the Manning River effectively acted as a highway for moving people, timber, produce and supplies.Wingham was established at the furthest point supply boats could reach up the river and became the region's major port.Croki was another major transport hub, that served as a landing port. Trips by riverboats travelling between Sydney and Manning settlements were common, until the railway link to Sydney opened in 1913, and improved road connections had reduced the demand for river transport. Eventually Croki and Wingham ceased being thriving ports as river based transport became replaced by road and rail.[13] The old cargo wharf at Wingham Brush has since been refurbished. The town ofTinonee was also settled on the river near Taree.
In 2008 a pod of bottle-nosed dolphins became stranded up stream from Wingham between Jackson and Abbotts Falls (visible from Brushy Cutting Lookout). Authorities observed, but did not intervene. Despite this area having adequate food, and a high level of water, all dolphins soon died stranded in this section of fresh and/or brackish water. This is assumed by specialists now to relate to low salinity water leading toFresh Water Skin Disease. Necroscopys and water testing were not carried out.
In March 2021, a record breaking low pressure trough brought intense rainfall to the Manning Valley catchment area,[14] inundating properties atTaree andWingham. It peaked at 5.7 m (19 ft) in Taree, falling just short of the record 6 m (20 ft) flood of 1929.[15]
In September 2023 a pod of five bottle-nosed dolphins became entrapped in a fresh water section of the Manning River, again between Jackson and Abbotts Falls. First observations reported one deceased dolphin, and the four surviving dolphins abnormal behaviour thrashing in deep sections of river and remaining circling within a small section of the river. Relevant authorities were notified. A period of observation of the dolphins was enacted. Water testing some days later revealed the water was fresh, and not brackish as had been presumed. Fresh Water Skin Disease quickly developed in all dolphins as a result of prolonged fresh water exposure.[16] Visual growths and deep lesions became evident, even from the shore, and the last surviving dolphins colours began to change. Rescue was formally enacted after three of the dolphins were found deceased.[17] The fourth dolphin perished the day following, before rescue could be enacted. A skilled multidisciplinary team, carried out a successful and humane capture of the only surviving dolphin on 17 September 2023.[18] Once captured, the final dolphin, who came to be known as Forest, was initially given medical clearance to travel to Sea World Foundation, QLD to be rehabilitated. On full recovery Forest would have been released locally in the Mid-Coast. Forest was sedated with specialist marine mammal vets and a team of volunteers alongside her. She was travelling in a specialty equipped veterinary vehicle and was under sedation with the specialist team all around her when she died. Necroscopy showed prolonged exposure to fresh water conditions led to array of major health concerns, ultimately organ failure (Fresh Water Skin Disease). The pod of five dolphins perished within 5.5- 13.5 days of becoming entrapped in fresh water conditions. This event is being used to better understand Fresh Water Skin disease internationally, and to support better outcomes if this happens again in this stretch of the Manning River.[19]
In May 2025, afterheavy rainfall in the Mid North Coast, the river at Taree broke an almost 100-year record where it passed 6 metres (20 ft).[20]
The Manning River is a major producer of Australian oysters and is home to many fish, one of the common species being theYellowfin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis).Dusky Flathead (Platycephalus fuscus), a widespread Australian estuary fish is also present in the river. The river provides habitat for the endangered Manning River helmeted turtle, which isendemic to its upper and middle catchments.[21][22]Bull sharks have been caught and tagged in the river and it's not uncommon to find them as far upstream asWingham, about 40 kms from the coast.[23] Dolphins are also present however freshwater exposure has occasionally led to mortality events near Wingham.[19]
Whales also frequent the river, mainly at the larger Harrington Inlet, although some do enter the Farquar Inlet and generally do not venture far up river. However, on 16 September 1994 a rare tropicalBryde's whale measuring 9-metre (30 ft) long, nicknamed "Free Willy" by locals, ventured much further up river to Taree. After becoming a tourist attraction, and repeatedly evading attempts by conservationists to free him "Free Willy" was finally rescued by Seaworld Staff in conjunction with NSW National Parks And Wildlife and ORCA (Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia). "Willy" became stranded on a sandbar, and with the assistance of a specially designed inflatable Cetacean Rescue Device, floated and towed back out to sea and was last seen heading for deeper water to the east.[24][25]
Taree is home to the annual Manning River Summer Festival, which featuresrowing, andsailing. The Taree Powerboat Club Spectacular is held in the Manning River during theEaster long weekend.
TheManning Point Fishing Classic, held annually atManning Point is the Australian leg of thePoissons et boisson extrêmes extreme fishing tour. The tour pits an invitation only collection of notorious fishers, known for their extreme dedication to the twin arts of fishing and drinking.
Commercial fishing and oyster farming are both practiced in the Manning. The peak season for oyster production is September to March; and the annual production during 2013 was 146,000dozen.[26] The link between Taree and theoyster industry is shown by the presence in Taree of the "Big Oyster", a building constructed in the shape of an open oyster shell.
The Manning River area is popular for domestic tourism.
River systems and rivers ofHunter-Central Rivers catchment,New South Wales, Australia | |
|---|---|
| Manning River | |
| Great Lakes | |
| Hunter Valley andHunter River | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
