| Namoi River | |
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| Etymology | Aboriginal: 1. derived from the name for a species ofacacia; 2. derived fromngamu, theGamilaraay word for "breast"[1] |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | IBRA:New England Tablelands |
| District | Northern Tablelands,North West Slopes |
| Municipalities | Narrabri,Walgett,Gunnedah |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Moonbi Range,Great Dividing Range |
| • location | NearNiangala |
| • elevation | 708 m (2,323 ft) |
| 2nd source | Macdonald River |
| Source confluence | Boundary Creek |
| Mouth | Confluence with theBarwon River |
• location | NearWalgett |
• elevation | 130 m (430 ft) |
| Length | 708 km (440 mi) |
| Basin size | 43,000 km2 (17,000 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 25 m3/s (880 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Barwon River,Murray–Darling basin |
| Reservoirs | Lake Keepit, Baraneal Lagoon |
| [2][3] | |
TheNamoi River, a majorperennial river that is part of theBarwon catchment of theMurray–Darling basin, is located in theNorthern Tablelands andNorth West Slopes districts ofNew South Wales,Australia.
The Namoi River rises on the western slopes of theMoonbi Range andGreat Dividing Range, nearNiangala, at the convergence of theMacdonald River and Boundary Creek, and flows generally west, joined by twenty-seventributaries, including thePeel,Manilla andMooki rivers, before reaching its confluence with theBarwon River, nearWalgett.
The Namoi River descends 578 metres (1,896 ft) over its 708 kilometres (440 mi)course; passing near the towns ofGunnedah,Boggabri,Narrabri,Wee Waa and Walgett. The flow of the river is impounded byLake Keepit and Baraneal Lagoon.[2]
The headwaters of the Namoi, including the Macdonald River, the Peel River, theCockburn River and the Manilla River, rise on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range on the Northern Tablelands. Other smaller tributaries includeCobrabald River, Coxs Creek, Maules Creek, Mooki River and Bundock Creek. It rises east ofNiangala and flows generally north west after its confluence with its major tributary, the Cobrabald River, then passes through the villages ofWoolbrook andBendemeer. It continues to flow westward to where it changes name to the Namoi River at Boundary Creek just east of where the river entersWarrabah National Park.
The Namoi flows past Manilla, where it is joined by the Manilla River. After passing into Keepit Dam it is joined by the Peel River before passing by Carroll, then joined by the Mooki River near Gunnedah on theLiverpool Plains. From here it flows north-westwards past Boggabri, Narrabri, Wee Waa andBurren Junction and eventually joins the Barwon River, near the town of Walgett.[2]
Keepit Dam near Gunnedah is an importantdam for flood control and irrigation. The floodplains of the lower Namoi around Wee Waa are an important area for growingcotton which is irrigated using water from the dam.
The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Namoi River are theAboriginal people of theKamilaroi nation. The wordnamoi ornammoy is believed to be the native name for a species ofacacia; andngamu is aGamilaraay word for "breast".[1] Alternative meanings of the name include Aboriginal words for "forked stick" and "meeting of the waters".[citation needed]
Allan Cunningham, a botanist-explorer, in 1827 became the first European to explore the Namoi River. Cunningham named this river "Mitchell" in honour of James Mitchell, the chief surgeon of Sydney Hospital, out of gratitude for his assistance with barometrical observations.
The Namoi River Road Bridge, which was built at Manilla in 1886, has been placed on theRegister of the National Estate. This bridge has eleven metal lattice truss spans and is one of the longest six or seven metal truss bridges completed in Australia by that time.
The Namoi supports a wide range of fish and crustaceans, which includeMurray cod,yellowbelly,silver perch, catfish (Tandanus tandanus) as well as yabbies (Cherax destructor). "Crawbob" is a regional name and may be called a "yabby" elsewhere in the state.[citation needed]
Murray cod in the Namoi grow to a very large size, with fish of forty kilograms or larger being not uncommon.European carp and extensive irrigation practices have had adverse impact on the native fish population over the last forty years, and restocking programs have been undertaken, mainly by volunteers, to ensure the survival of the native fish population.
TheNamoi River snapping turtle or Bell's turtle (Elseya belli) is a species of turtle found only in the upper reaches of the Namoi River,Gwydir and Macdonald rivers on the North West Slopes.[4]
Theplatypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is found in this river and can often be seen around Warrabah National Park, east of Manilla.
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