| Nicholson | |
|---|---|
 Looking south along the river from theEast Gippsland Rail Trail trestle bridge atNicholson. | |
| Etymology | In honour ofCharles Nicholson[1] |
| Native name |
|
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Region | South East Corner (IBRA),East Gippsland |
| Local government area | Shire of East Gippsland |
| Towns | Nicholson |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Angora Range,Great Dividing Range |
| • location | below Marthavale |
| • coordinates | 37°26′43″S147°31′24″E / 37.44528°S 147.52333°E /-37.44528; 147.52333 |
| • elevation | 440 m (1,440 ft) |
| Mouth | Lake King to formconfluence with theMitchell River |
• location | nearNicholson |
• coordinates | 37°50′53″S147°43′54″E / 37.84806°S 147.73167°E /-37.84806; 147.73167 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 83 km (52 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Mitchell River catchment |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Barmouth Creek, Navigation Creek, Nicholson Creek |
| • right | Black Snake Creek, Yahoo Creek, Store Creek |
| [7][8] | |
TheNicholson River is aperennial river of theMitchell River catchment, located in theEast Gippsland region of theAustralian state ofVictoria.[9]
The Nicholson River rises below the Angora Range in the lower reaches of theVictorian Alps within theGreat Dividing Range, near the small settlement of Marthavale, west ofEnsay.[10] The river flows generally southeast passing through the small town ofNicholson before entering Lake King, one of the main lakes in the extensiveGippsland Lakes system.[9] Within the lake, the Nicholson River forms itsconfluence with the Mitchell River, which joins with theTambo River; with the Mitchell River draining intoBass Strait southwest ofLakes Entrance, in theShire of East Gippsland. The river descends 440 metres (1,440 ft) over its 83-kilometre (52 mi)course.[8][11]
The river is impounded by the Nicholson River Dam, that forms awater reservoir used for thesupply of town water to Lakes Entrance, until 1995.[12]
In its lower reaches, the river is traversed by theGreat Alpine Road, thePrinces Highway, and theEast Gippsland Rail Trail,[8] a shared purposerail trail that was formerly the part of theOrbost railway line.
There are a number ofAustralian Aboriginal names for the river including: from theBrabralung languageYowen-burrun[2] andDart'yung,[3] both meaning "root of water plant";[4]Geremoot, with no clearly defined meaning;[5] and in theTatungalung language,Ngarrak walang, meaning "back-stone".[6]
The current name of the river was given by the earlycolonialexplorer andpastoralist,Angus McMillan, who named the river in 1839 in honour ofCharles Nicholson, who represented thePort Phillip District on theNSW Legislative Council and was later Colonial Secretary.[1]
Waterways of the East Gippsland catchment,Victoria, Australia | |
|---|---|
| Rivers |
|
| Creeks | |
| Lakes |
|
