| Moore River | |
|---|---|
 Moore River estuary atGuilderton | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Dalwallinu |
| • elevation | 310 m (1,017 ft)[1] |
| Mouth | |
• location | Indian Ocean at Guilderton |
• elevation | sea level |
| Length | 193 km (120 mi) |
| Basin size | 13,550 km2 (5,232 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 60,860 ML/a (1.929 m3/s; 68.11 cu ft/s)[2] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Yadgena Brook, Moore River East |
| • right | Coonderoo River |
Moore River (Garban) is a river in theWheatbelt region ofWestern Australia.
The headwaters of the Moore River lie in thePerenjori,Carnamah andDalwallinu Shires. The river then drains southwards throughMoora, flows westerly before joining with the Moore River East near Mogumber, then flows in a westerly direction over the Edengerie Cascade, through the northern edge of the Moore River Nature Reserve, then through the Gingin Scarp, discharging into the Indian Ocean atGuilderton.[3]
The river includes a catchment that extends from just south ofThree Springs toGuilderton. The catchment has a total area of 13,800 square kilometres (5,328 sq mi) and is 80% cleared for agriculture.[3] The catchment area is used forbroadacre farming but with increasing diversification inhorticulture and tree plantations. The river mouth at Guilderton typically closes during the summer months due to insufficient water flow, creating a sandbar.
The river has nine sub-catchment areas and has a number of tributaries and lakes along the length of the river. Thesalinity levels in the river catchment vary frombrackish tosaline with the exception of Gingin Brook which remains fresh throughout the year.[3]
The Aboriginal people referred to the lower part of the river asGarban.[4] White settlers named itRiver Moore in May 1836 by Corporal Patrick Heffron of the63rd Regiment of Foot, after his expedition leaderGeorge Fletcher Moore,Advocate-General. The exploratory party comprised Moore, Heffron and an Aboriginal man named Weenat.[5][6] Heffron was notable for his participation in thePinjarra Massacre in 1834.[7]
The river is prone to periodic flooding unusually followingcyclones and tropical depressions crossing the coast further north. In 1907, the railway lines betweenWatheroo andMoora were closed for some time when parts of the track were washed away.[8]More floods occurred in 1917 when 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain fell in three hours at Mogumber with similar falls in surrounding areas. Moora was once again left underwater and rail services in surrounding areas were suspended. Low-lying areas in other towns such asArrino,Three Springs, andCoorow were also submerged.[9]
In 1932, the river flooded once again following heavy rains in the Midland districts. Railway lines were undermined to a depth of 30 feet (9 m) leaving Moora isolated fromPerth by both road and rail. The township of Moora was left 3 feet (1 m) underwater and portions of the town had to be evacuated. Crops and some stock were lost as a result of the floodwaters.[10]
Opened in 1918, near the head of the river, was the now defunct and discredited government-managed-settlement and internment camp known as theMoore River Native Settlement.
31°22′S115°29′E / 31.367°S 115.483°E /-31.367; 115.483
Rivers ofWestern Australia | |
|---|---|
| Rivers of theGascoyne region | |
| Rivers of theGoldfields–Esperance region | |
| Rivers of theGreat Southern region | |
| Rivers of theKimberley region |
|
| Rivers of theMid West region | |
| Rivers of thePeel andPerth regions | |
| Rivers of thePilbara region | |
| Rivers of theSouth West region | |
| Rivers of theWheatbelt region | |
