Big River (Mitta Mitta River, Victoria)

The Big River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the East Gippsland and Alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northern slopes of Falls Creek in the Australian Alps, joining with the Cobungra River near Anglers Rest to form the Mitta Mitta River.[2]

This article is about the watercourse in Victoria that is a tributary of the Mitta Mitta River. For the watercourse in Victoria that is also located in East Gippsland, see Big River (Brodribb River, Victoria). For the watercourse in Victoria that is a tributary of the Goulburn River, see Big River (Goulburn River, Victoria). For other uses, see Big River (disambiguation).

Big
Looking south over the Big River at the Bundara Campground, near Anglers Rest
Big River (Mitta Mitta River, Victoria) is located in Victoria
Big River (Mitta Mitta River, Victoria)
Location of the Big River mouth in Victoria
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionVictorian Alps (IBRA), East Gippsland
Local government areaEast Gippsland Shire
Physical characteristics
SourceSpion Kopje, Victorian Alps
 • locationnear Falls Creek
 • coordinates36°49′S 147°19′E
 • elevation1,850 m (6,070 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Cobungra River to form the Mitta Mitta River
 • location
Anglers Rest
 • coordinates
36°59′23″S 147°30′40″E
 • elevation
645 m (2,116 ft)
Length52 km (32 mi)
Basin features
River systemNorth-East Murray catchment,
Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftGlen Wills Creek
 • rightHollonds Creek, Middle Creek (Victoria), Bundara River
National parkAlpine National Park
[1]

Course

The Big River rises below the ski resort at Falls Creek in the Alpine National Park, on the northern slopes of Spion Kopje at an elevation of 1,837 metres (6,027 ft) above sea level. The river flows north off Spion Kopje, then east in the valley between Spion Kopje and Victoria's highest peak, Mount Bogong, separating Mount Bogong itself from the Bogong High Plains. The river then flows south-southeast, forming the eastern edge of the national park, before turning southward near the Omeo Highway crossing around Glen Valley, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of Anglers Rest.[2]

The Omeo Highway then closely follows the course of the Big River until the point where the Bundara River enters it, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Anglers Rest. Shortly downstream from this, near Anglers Rest, the Big River forms its confluence with the Cobungra River, with the two rivers becoming the Mitta Mitta River, itself a tributary of the Murray River.[2] The river descends 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) over its 52-kilometre (32 mi) course.[1]

Tributaries

Key tributaries of the Big River include Cairn Creek, Beckraith Creek, Camp Creek, Hollonds Creek, Dead Horse Creek, Middle Creek, Glen Wills Creek, Wallaby Creek, Burnside Creek, and the Bundara River.[2] The main tributaries flow off the northern slopes of Spion Kopje, the southern slopes of Mount Bogong, the north, east, and west slopes of Mount Nelse and Mount Nelse North, the eastern slopes of Mount Cope, and the western slopes of Mount Wills and The Knocker.[2]

River health
Devastated bushland alongside the Big River near Anglers Rest resulting from the 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires

Most of the waterways in the Mitta Mitta sub-catchment basin are recognised as being in good to excellent condition. Extensive forest covers much of the catchment area. Despite some land clearing and livestock damage to river banks, the aquatic habitat is generally very good.[3] The upper Big River above the Glen Valley is classified as a "Representative River of East Victorian dissected uplands".[3]

In early 2003, large areas of forest around the Big River and its catchments were severely impacted by the Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires. These fires burnt through approximately 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 sq mi) of the area's bushland for close to two months.[4][5] The damage resulting from the fires impacted river health for some time after the fires.

See also

References
The Big River beside the Omeo Hwy at the Bogong High Plains Rd turnoff, Shannonvale
  1. "Map of Big River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. Vicroads Country Street Directory of Victoria (4 ed.). Noble Park, Victoria: Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. 2000. ISSN 1329-5284.
  3. "A guide to inland angling waters of Victoria: Mitta Mitta basin". Department of Primary Industries website. State Government of Victoria. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  4. "No end in sight for Victorian bushfires". The Age. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  5. Noble, Tom (2 February 2003). "Razing Heaven". The Age. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
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