Nicholson River (Victoria)

Course and features

The Nicholson River rises below the Angora Range in the lower reaches of the Victorian Alps within the Great Dividing Range, near the small settlement of Marthavale, west of . The river flows generally southeast passing through the small town of before entering Lake King, one of the main lakes in the extensive Gippsland Lakes system. Within the lake, the Nicholson River forms its confluence with the Mitchell River, which joins with the Tambo River; with the Mitchell River draining into Bass Strait southwest of , in the Shire of East Gippsland. The river descends 440 m over its 83 km course.

The river is impounded by the Nicholson River Dam, that forms a water reservoir used for the supply of town water to Lakes Entrance, until 1995.

In its lower reaches, the river is traversed by the Great Alpine Road, the Princes Highway, and the East Gippsland Rail Trail, a shared purpose rail trail that was formerly the part of the Orbost railway line.

Etymology

There are a number of Australian Aboriginal names for the river including: from the Brabralung language Yowen-burrun and Dart'yung, both meaning "root of water plant"; Geremoot, with no clearly defined meaning; and in the Tatungalung language, Ngarrak walang, meaning "back-stone".

The current name of the river was given by the early colonial explorer and pastoralist, Angus McMillan, who named the river in 1839 in honour of Charles Nicholson, who represented the Port Phillip District on the NSW Legislative Council and was later Colonial Secretary.

Gallery

Rail-Trail-Trestle-Bridge,-Nicholson,-VIC,-13.09.2008.jpg|Looking north to the rail trail trestle bridge across the river at Nicholson

References

References

1. (12 August 2011). "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Yowen-burrun". [[Government of Victoria (Australia).
2. (12 August 2011). "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Dart'yung". [[Government of Victoria (Australia).
3. (12 August 2011). "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Dart'yung". [[Government of Victoria (Australia).
4. (12 August 2011). "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Geremoot". [[Government of Victoria (Australia).
5. (12 August 2011). "Nicholson River: 22494: Traditional Name: Ngarrak walang". [[Government of Victoria (Australia).
6. (2 May 1966). "Nicholson River: 22494". [[Government of Victoria (Australia).
7. "Map of Nicholson River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia.
8. (2000). "Vicroads Country Street Directory of Victoria". [[Royal Automobile Club of Victoria]].
9. (1982). "8423 Omeo, Victoria, Topographic Map". Commonwealth of Australia.
10. "Nicholson / Tambo Catchments". East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
11. (21 December 2010). "Nicholson River Dam decommissioning mooted". [[ABC News (Australia).
12. Daley, Charles. (12 October 2006). "The Story of Gippsland". Whitcombe and Tombs.