The Mortlock River is a perennial river in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
| Mortlock | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Etymology | Henry Mortlock Ommanney, a surveyor |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Western Australia |
| Region | Wheatbelt |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | near Belmunging |
| • coordinates | 31°51′48″S 117°9′2″E / 31.86333°S 117.15056°E |
| • elevation | 249 m (817 ft) |
| Mouth | Avon River |
• location | west of Northam |
• coordinates | 31°38′41″S 116°40′20″E / 31.64472°S 116.67222°E |
• elevation | 146 m (479 ft) |
| Length | 81 km (50 mi) |
| Basin size | 16,800 km2 (6,500 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| • average | 17,800,000 m3/s (630,000,000 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Avon River |
| [1][2] | |
Course and features
editThe headwaters of the river rise near Belmunging then flow in a northerly direction, crossed by the Goldfields Road and continuing in a north-westerly direction to finally flow parallel to the Northam York Road and crossed by the Great Eastern Highway. The river is joined by three minor tributaries: Mortlock River North, Mortlock River East and Meenaar South Creek. The river discharges into the Avon River, just west of Northam. The Mortlock descends 103 metres (338 ft) over its 81-kilometre (50 mi) course.[1]
The river is saline and delivers the most salt (approximately 91 tonnes (90 long tons) per year) into the Avon River.
Name
editThe river was named after the surveyor Henry Mortlock Ommanney in the 1830s. Ommanney visited the river during an expedition through the area in 1835.[3]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Map of Mortlock River, WA". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ "Avon River Basin Natural Resource Management Plan". 2004. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ^ "History of river names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2011.