Margaret River (Kimberley, Western Australia)

The Margaret River is a river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Margaret River
Margaret River in flood at the entrance to the Wunaamin-Miliwundi Ranges
Location
Country	Australia
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Wunaamin-Miliwundi Ranges
• elevation	498 metres (1,634 ft)[1]
Mouth
• location	Fitzroy River
• elevation	110 metres (361 ft)
Length	335 kilometres (208 mi)[2]

The river was named on 29 May 1879 by the explorer Alexander Forrest, during an expedition in the Kimberley area, after his sister-in-law Margaret Elvire Forrest, wife of his brother and superior, Deputy Surveyor-General John Forrest, who was later to be Premier of Western Australia.[3]

The headwaters of the river rise in the Wunaamin-Miliwundi Ranges west of Halls Creek and flow in a westerly direction until merging with the Fitzroy River. The junction of the two rivers is close to Fitzroy Crossing. The Margaret River has 15 tributaries including: Mary River, Gliddon River, O'Donnell River, Leopold River, Louisa River, Station Creek, Dead Horse Creek, Gidgia Creek and Boab Creek.

The state Public Works Department set up a flow monitoring station on the Margaret River at the entrance of the gorge where it enters the Mueller Ranges in 1966. Debate continues about the use of the Fitzroy River basin as a water source for the South West of Western Australia.

Fish such as the barramundi, freshwater sawfish, Greenway's grunter and the false-spine catfish have all been found within the river system.[4]

The traditional owners of the areas around the river are the Djaru, Gidja and Gooniyandi peoples.[5]

• 
  Margaret River near the Louisa Downs homestead