The Buchan River (/bʌkən/ BUCK-ən) is a perennial river of the Snowy River catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.
| Buchan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Etymology | Aboriginal: bukkan bukkan or bukkan mungie, meaning "bags made from grass"[1][2] |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Region | Australian Alps (IBRA), Victorian Alps, East Gippsland |
| Local government area | Shire of East Gippsland |
| Locality | Buchan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | below Blue Hill |
| • location | Snowy River National Park |
| • elevation | 1,090 m (3,580 ft) |
| Mouth | confluence with the Snowy River |
• location | near Lucas Point |
• coordinates | 37°31′S 148°16′E / 37.517°S 148.267°E |
• elevation | 41 m (135 ft) |
| Length | 118 km (73 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Snowy River catchment |
| National park | Alpine NP |
| [3][4] | |
Course and features
editThe Buchan River rises below Blue Hill in a remote alpine wilderness area within the Alpine National Park, and flows generally south through the town of Buchan. The river is joined by the Murrindal River and eight minor tributaries, before reaching its confluence with the Snowy River near Lucas Point in the Shire of East Gippsland. The river descends 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) over its 118-kilometre (73 mi) course.[4]
At Buchan, the river is traversed by Gelantipy Road, and a little further to the east, the Buchan Orbost Road.[4]
Etymology
editThe name Buchan is thought to be taken from the Aboriginal phrase bukkan bukkan or bukkan mungie, referring to bags made from grass.[1][2]
History
editAboriginal history
editThe traditional custodians of the land surrounding the upper reaches of the Buchan River are the Australian Aboriginal Bidawal and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples;[5] while in its lower reaches, the Gunaikurnai people identify the land surrounding Buchan as their traditional country.[6]
At Cloggs Cave near Buchan, evidence has been found of Aboriginal occupation in prehistoric times.[2]
European history
editPastoralists first entered the area surrounding the town of Buchan in the late 1830s. Buchan Station, taken up in the 1840s, had a succession of owners. To the north were the Gelantipy and Black Mountain runs. There were small groups of Aboriginals in the area but their numbers declined rapidly after European settlement. In 1861, Rev. John Bulmer inspected land south of Buchan as a possible site for a mission station. When he moved to Lake Tyers, the remaining Aboriginals accompanied him there. Land settlement began in 1870, with the best land along the river quickly taken up. A township was proclaimed in 1873, taking its name from the station. The Victorian Municipal Directory described the district in 1888.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Suggan Buggan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Buchan, Victoria". Australian places. Monash University. January 1999. Archived from the original on 17 April 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ "Buchan River: 11729". Vicnames. Government of Victoria. 2 May 1966. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ a b c "Map of Buchan River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ "Snowy River National Park". Explore national parks. Parks Victoria. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ "Buchan Caves Reserve". Explore national parks. Parks Victoria. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
External links
edit- "Snowy River National Park: park notes" (PDF). Parks Victoria. November 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- "Snowy River sub-catchment". East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Government of Victoria.
- "Snowy River - Catchment Map" (map). East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Government of Victoria.
- East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (2013). East Gippsland regional catchment strategy 2013 -2019 (PDF). Bairnsdale: East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. ISBN 978-0-9758164-6-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.