Gwydir River
Gwydir River /ɡwaɪdər/ (locally [gwɑe̯də]), a major inland perennial river of the Barwon catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the Northern Tablelands, North West Slopes, and Orana districts of New South Wales, Australia.
| Gwydir River Guida, Big Bundarra River, Bundara River, Big River, Rocky River | |
|---|---|
Gwydir River, near Bingara | |
| Etymology | In honour of Lord Gwydir |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| IBRA | Northern Tablelands |
| District | New England, North West Slopes, Orana |
| Municipalities | Uralla, Gwydir, Moree Plains, Walgett |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Rocky River |
| • location | at Yarrowyck, near Uralla |
| • elevation | 760 m (2,490 ft) |
| 2nd source | Boorolong Creek |
| Source confluence | Mehi River |
| • location | near Moree |
| • elevation | 202 m (663 ft) |
| Mouth | confluence with the Barwon River |
• location | north east of Collarenebri |
• elevation | 144 m (472 ft) |
| Length | 488 km (303 mi) |
| Basin size | 26,588 km2 (10,266 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 26 m3/s (920 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Barwon River, Murray–Darling basin |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Horton River |
| • right | Moredun Creek |
| Reservoirs | Lake Copeton, Collymongle Lagoon |
The river rises at the junction of the Rocky River and Boorolong Creek, at Yarrowyck, northwest of Uralla and flows generally northwest and west, joined by over thirty-four tributaries, including the Horton and Mehi rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Barwon River, north east of Collarenebri; descending 616 metres (2,021 ft) over its 488-kilometre (303 mi) course.
The flow of the river is impounded by Copeton Dam, with storage used for town water supply, stock, domestic use and irrigation. The Gwydir River below Copeton Dam provides some of the wildest whitewater rafting available in Australia. Before the construction of Copeton Dam and much diversionary work, the Gwydir River flowed into the Gingham and Lower Gwydir Wetlands.
The Gwydir Highway was named after the river.