Condamine River
Encyclopedia
The Condamine River, part of the Murray-Darling Basin
, drains the northern portion of the Darling Downs, an area of sub-coastal southern Queensland
, Australia
. It rises on Mount Superbus
, South East Queensland
's highest peak, on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range
and although only about 100 km from the Queensland coast, the Condamine flows north west across the Darling Downs, then west.
and Warwick
, while the tributary Gowrie Creek drains the slopes around Toowoomba.
At Surat
it turns to the south-west and becomes known as the Balonne River
. Towns the river passes through include St George
, Dirranbandi
and Surat. In this area Bungil Creek
joins the Balonne.
The Balonne River forks near Dirranbandi with a western branch being called the Culgoa River
which, in turn, flows into the Darling
. The eastern branch of the Balonne River
in turn branches again - into the Bokhara River on the right and the Narran River on the left (eastern) side. These rivers join with the Barwon River
west of Brewarrina which also flows into the Darling River
.
. Leslie Dam
on Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Condamine, is the main water reservoir for Warwick
. Talgai Weir is a small weir that can hold 640 ML near Clifton
. Other water storage facilities on the Condamine River include the Yarramalong Weir, Lemon Tree Weir, Loudoun Weir, Tipton Weir and the Cecil Plains Weir. The Condamine River is reduced to a series of drying ponds during droughts in Australia
.
in 1827 for T. De La Condamine, aide-de-camp to Governor Ralph Darling
. Patrick Leslie
was the first settler in the area. He established Canning Downs
in 1840, near Warwick.
Major Thomas Mitchell crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846. The next year 1847 Ludwig Leichhardt
went to examine the course of the Condamine River.
.
Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling basin is a large geographical area in the interior of southeastern Australia, whose name is derived from its two major rivers, the Murray River and the Darling River. It drains one-seventh of the Australian land mass, and is currently by far the most significant agricultural...
, drains the northern portion of the Darling Downs, an area of sub-coastal southern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It rises on Mount Superbus
Mount Superbus
Mount Superbus lies 150 km south-west of Brisbane and is South East Queensland's highest peak at 1375 metres . At this elevation it is the third highest peak in Queensland. Only Mount Bellenden Ker at 1593 m and Mount Bartle Frere at 1622 m in Far North Queensland are higher.It has an...
, South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
's highest peak, on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
and although only about 100 km from the Queensland coast, the Condamine flows north west across the Darling Downs, then west.
Course
The river flows through the towns of KillarneyKillarney, Queensland
Killarney is a small town located 35 km south-east of Warwick, on the Condamine River in Queensland, Australia. The town forms part of the Southern Downs local government area. Killarney is located about 8 km from the Queensland/New South Wales border. It is close to Queen Mary Falls, in the Main...
and Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
, while the tributary Gowrie Creek drains the slopes around Toowoomba.
At Surat
Surat, Queensland
Surat is a small rural town on the Balonne River, approximately south of Roma on the Carnarvon Highway. It is west of Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Surat had a population of 436.The district was first mapped by Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1846...
it turns to the south-west and becomes known as the Balonne River
Balonne River
The Balonne River, part of the Murray-Darling Basin system, is a short but important part of the inland river group of south-eastern Queensland. This river is a continuation of the Condamine River. After flowing through Surat the river flows south south-westerly down through the E.J...
. Towns the river passes through include St George
St George, Queensland
St George is a town of approximately 2400 people in south-western Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne. It was named by Major Thomas Mitchell who crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846. At the 2006 census, St George had a population of...
, Dirranbandi
Dirranbandi, Queensland
Dirranbandi is a town in south-western Queensland, Australia, located in the Shire of Balonne. It sits on the Castlereagh Highway and the Balonne River. It is notable for the population increase each year as seasonal workers come to work on the extensive cotton fields. Due to the low annual...
and Surat. In this area Bungil Creek
Bungil Creek
The Bungil Creek has its headwaters north of Roma, Queensland, Australia. The creek runs through the town of Roma and joins the Balonne River 7 kilometres west of Surat. It then joins the Barwon River, then the Darling River and into the Murray River...
joins the Balonne.
The Balonne River forks near Dirranbandi with a western branch being called the Culgoa River
Culgoa River
The Culgoa River is a continuation of one branch of the Balonne River in southern Queensland and flows south-west to join the Darling River near Bourke, New South Wales. It is named for the Aboriginal word meaning "Running Through". Tributaries of the Culgoa include Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam...
which, in turn, flows into the Darling
Darling River
The Darling River is the third longest river in Australia, measuring from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth, New South Wales. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is long, making it the longest river system in Australia.The...
. The eastern branch of the Balonne River
Balonne River
The Balonne River, part of the Murray-Darling Basin system, is a short but important part of the inland river group of south-eastern Queensland. This river is a continuation of the Condamine River. After flowing through Surat the river flows south south-westerly down through the E.J...
in turn branches again - into the Bokhara River on the right and the Narran River on the left (eastern) side. These rivers join with the Barwon River
Barwon River (New South Wales)
The Barwon River flows through New South Wales, virtually as a continuation of the Macintyre River / Border Rivers system, before joining with the Culgoa River to form the Darling River...
west of Brewarrina which also flows into the Darling River
Darling River
The Darling River is the third longest river in Australia, measuring from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth, New South Wales. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is long, making it the longest river system in Australia.The...
.
Water storage
Water from the Condamine River is used for town water supply and for irrigationIrrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. Leslie Dam
Leslie Dam
Leslie Dam is located ten kilometres from Warwick Central Business District in Queensland, Australia. Freshwater fishing and water sports facilities are available....
on Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Condamine, is the main water reservoir for Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
. Talgai Weir is a small weir that can hold 640 ML near Clifton
Clifton, Queensland
Clifton is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The lands around the town was first settled by Europeans in 1840. At the 2006 census, Clifton had a population of 1,067....
. Other water storage facilities on the Condamine River include the Yarramalong Weir, Lemon Tree Weir, Loudoun Weir, Tipton Weir and the Cecil Plains Weir. The Condamine River is reduced to a series of drying ponds during droughts in Australia
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
.
History
The Condamine was named by Allan CunninghamAllan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
in 1827 for T. De La Condamine, aide-de-camp to Governor Ralph Darling
Ralph Darling
General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH was a British colonial Governor and Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831.-Early career:...
. Patrick Leslie
Patrick Leslie
Patrick Leslie was a Scottish Settler in Australia. Leslie and his two brothers were the first to settle on the Darling Downs, and he was the first person to buy land in Warwick.-Early life:...
was the first settler in the area. He established Canning Downs
Canning Downs
Canning Downs was the first residential establishment built by a white person on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. It is located a short drive from the town of Warwick and originally extended south east to Killarney and the McPherson Range...
in 1840, near Warwick.
Major Thomas Mitchell crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846. The next year 1847 Ludwig Leichhardt
Ludwig Leichhardt
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, known as Ludwig Leichhardt, was a Prussian explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia.-Early life:...
went to examine the course of the Condamine River.
2010–2011 Queensland floods
The Condamine and its catchment area were involved in the 2010–2011 Queensland floods2010–2011 Queensland floods
A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected. Damage initially was...
.