| Hawkesbury-Nepean River | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photograph showing the mouth of the Hawkesbury River as it flows into Broken Bay and out into the Tasman Sea, as seen looking across Sydney's Northern Beaches | |
 | |
| Native name | Dyarubbin (Dharuk) |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Greater Metropolitan Sydney |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Nepean River |
| • location | north of Penrith |
| 2nd source | Grose River |
| Mouth | Broken Bay |
• location | west of Lion Island |
• coordinates | 33°33′53.9994″S 151°18′0″E / 33.564999833°S 151.30000°E |
| Length | 120 km (75 mi) |
| Basin size | 21,624.1 km2 (8,349.1 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Near mouth |
| • average | 150.2 m3/s (4,740 GL/a)[1] 95 m3/s (3,400 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0 m3/s (0 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 15,000 m3/s (530,000 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Colo River, Webbs Creek, Macdonald River, Mangrove Creek, Popran Creek, Mooney Mooney Creek |
| • right | Cattai Creek, South Creek, Berowra Creek |
| Islands | Milson Island, Peat Island, Spectacle Island, Long Island, and Dangar Island |
The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River (Dharug: Dyarubbin)[2] a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. The river between Wisemans Ferry and the Pacific Ocean marks the boundary of Greater Metropolitan Sydney in the south and the Central Coast region to the north.
The Hawkesbury River has its origin at the confluence of the Nepean River and the Grose River, to the north of Penrith and travels for approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) in a north–easterly and then a south–easterly direction to its mouth at Broken Bay, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Tasman Sea. The Hawkesbury River is the main tributary of Broken Bay. Secondary tributaries include Brisbane Water and Pittwater, which, together with the Hawkesbury River, flow into Broken Bay and thence into the Tasman Sea north of Barrenjoey Head.
The total catchment area of the river is approximately 21,624 square kilometres (8,349 sq mi) and the area is generally administered by the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority.
The land adjacent to the Hawkesbury River was occupied by Aboriginal peoples: the Darkinjung, Darug, Eora, and Kuringgai. They used the river as a source of food and a place for trade.[3] In the languages of the traditional custodians the river is Deerubben or Dyarubbin.[4][5][6]
In March 2021, the river level rose, and many areas were flooded as part of the March 2021 Australian floods.[7]
- ^ "East Coastal Watersheds".
- ^ "Dyarubbin". www.sl.nsw.gov.au. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Bear, Virginia (2010). "Aboriginal People of the Sydney Region". Australian Association of Bush Regenerators. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ McGarvie, John (1847), Reverend John McGarvie papers, 1825-1847, retrieved 21 June 2021
- ^ Karskens, Grace. "Life and death on Dyarubbin". Griffith Review. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Rescue in floodwaters on Hawkesbury River averts collision between shipping container and houseboats ABC News 23 July 2021