Johnstone River

Johnstone
North Johnstone
South Johnstone
Johnstone River at Innisfail, 2006
Johnstone River is located in Queensland
Johnstone River
Location of Johnstone River river mouth in Queensland
EtymologyRobert Johnstone, a colonial Native Police officer
Location
CountryAustralia
StateQueensland
RegionFar North Queensland, North Queensland
CityInnisfail
Physical characteristics
SourceAtherton Tableland
2nd sourceNorth Johnstone River
 • locationMerivale
 • coordinates17°25′24″S 145°31′25″E / 17.42333°S 145.52361°E / -17.42333; 145.52361
 • elevation760 m (2,490 ft)
3rd sourceSouth Johnstone River
 • locationbelow Mount Father Clancy
 • coordinates17°35′37″S 145°36′32″E / 17.59361°S 145.60889°E / -17.59361; 145.60889
 • elevation755 m (2,477 ft)
Source confluenceSouth Johnstone River and North Johnstone River
 • locationInnisfail
 • coordinates17°31′25″S 146°02′1″E / 17.52361°S 146.03361°E / -17.52361; 146.03361
 • elevation1 m (3 ft 3 in)
MouthCoral Sea
 • location
between Flying Fish Point and Coquette Point
 • coordinates
17°30′39″S 146°04′36″E / 17.51083°S 146.07667°E / -17.51083; 146.07667
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length200 km (120 mi)
Basin size1,642.5 km2 (634.2 sq mi)[1]
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average95.6 m3/s (3,020 GL/a)[1]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftNorth Beatrice River, Ithaca River
 • rightDowney Creek
WaterfallsMalanda Falls, Jones Falls, Binda Falls
National parksElla Bay, Eubenangee Swamp, Herberton Range, Japoon, Malaan, Moresby Range, Palmerston Rocks, Topaz Road, Tully Falls, Tully Gorge and Wooroonooran
[2][3][4][5]

The Johnstone River, comprising the North Johnstone River and the South Johnstone River, is a river system in Far North and North Queensland, Australia.

The headwaters of the river system rise in the Atherton Tablelands. The north branch of the river system rises below Merivale, flows over the Malanda Falls and through the town of Malanda and then flows generally south by east, around Francis Range and over the Jones Falls, before flowing east, covering a distance of 114 kilometres (71 mi). The south branch of the river system rises below Mount Father Clancy, southwest of Mungalli, and generally flows east over Binda Falls, through the settlement of South Johnstone, before flowing north, covering a distance of 88 kilometres (55 mi). The two rivers reach their confluence to form the Johnstone River east of the town of Innisfail, and just 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of the river mouth. The main river then flows east, north of the Moresby Range National Park, and empties into the Coral Sea.

Together, the combined rivers flow over 200 kilometres (120 mi) from source to mouth and descend approximately 760 metres (2,490 ft),[2][3][4] with a catchment area of 2,320 square kilometres (900 sq mi).[6] Crocodiles swim and live in all areas in the Johnstone River and swimming is not recommended in any part of the river.

  1. ^ a b "East Coastal Watersheds".
  2. ^ a b "Map of Johnstone River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Map of North Johnstone River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Map of South Johnstone River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Johnstone River". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Johnstone River catchment". Fisheries Atlas. James Cook University. Retrieved 16 October 2015.