Glenelg River (Victoria)
The Glenelg River, a perennial river of the Glenelg Hopkins catchment, is located in the Australian states of Victoria and South Australia.
| Glenelg | |
|---|---|
Family canoeing on the Glenelg River | |
Map of Glenelg River catchment | |
| Etymology | In honour of the Colonial Secretary, Baron Glenelg, Charles Grant |
| Native name |
|
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| States | Victoria, South Australia |
| Region | Victorian Midlands, Naracoorte Coastal Plain (IBRA), Western Victoria, Limestone Coast, South Australia |
| Local government areas | Southern Grampians (V), West Wimmera (V), Glenelg (V), Grant (SA) |
| Settlements | Balmoral (V), Harrow (V), Casterton (V), Dartmoor (V), Donovans (SA), Nelson (V) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Grampian Ranges |
| • location | Grampians National Park, Victoria |
| • coordinates | 37°20′57″S 142°15′57″E |
| • elevation | 759 m (2,490 ft) |
| Mouth | Discovery Bay, Great Australian Bight |
• location | Nelson, Victoria |
• coordinates | 38°03′39″S 140°59′8″E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 350 km (220 mi) |
| Basin size | 12,660 km2 (4,890 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| • average | 35 m3/s (1,200 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Glenelg Hopkins catchment |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Chetwynd River, Wannon River, Stokes River (Victoria), Crawford River (Victoria) |
| National parks | Grampians, Lower Glenelg |
The river rises in the Grampian Ranges and flows generally north, then west, then south, for over 350 kilometres (220 mi), making the river the longest river in south-west Victoria and third longest overall. A short stretch of the lower end winds through southeastern South Australia before returning to Victoria to enter Discovery Bay at Nelson. The Glenelg River is a central feature of the Lower Glenelg National Park.
The river was named after Colonial Secretary Baron Glenelg, Charles Grant, by Major Thomas Mitchell in August 1836.
Large amounts of water diverted from the upper reaches of the river for agricultural purposes, including irrigation and town water demands. The estuary is listed under the Heritage Rivers Act, 1992 (VIC) and is a nationally important wetland.