Fitzroy River (Victoria)
Encyclopedia
The Fitzroy River is a river in southwestern Victoria
, Australia
. It begins near the western edge of the Lower Glenelg National Park
, flows through Heywood
, and enters the Southern Ocean
at Tyrendarra
.
The river is 54.2 kilometres (33.7 mi) in length and flows in a southeasterly and southerly direction from its source in the Cobboboonee State Forest, through farmland to Heywood, then between the western edge of the Tyrendarra lava flow and the Mount Clay escarpment, and thence across a coastal plain.
Its one main tributary, Darlot Creek, 50.7 kilometres (31.5 mi) in length, flows from near Branxholme
in a southerly direction through Lake Condah
then along the eastern side of the Tyrendarra lava flow before joining the river close to its mouth.
after the first person in his party to sight it near Tyrendarra. In August 1836 Major Mitchell, who, at the time, was unaware of the presence of the Hentys at Portland Bay
named it after FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan
when he crossed it near the site of Heywood.
Darlots (later Darlot) Creek was named after Henry Darlot who rested cattle beside the creek in 1840 and 1841 prior to the establishment of pastoral leases in the area.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, 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 begins near the western edge of the Lower Glenelg National Park
Lower Glenelg National Park
Lower Glenelg is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 323 km west of Melbourne. The major features are the Glenelg River gorge and the Princess Margaret Rose Cave....
, flows through Heywood
Heywood, Victoria
Heywood is a town on the Fitzroy River in the Australian state of Victoria. It is situated at an elevation of 27 metres amidst rolling green hills in an agricultural, pastoral and timbercutting district. Heywood is west of Melbourne at the intersection of the Princes and Henty Highways and north...
, and enters the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
at Tyrendarra
Tyrendarra, Victoria
Tyrendarra is a rural village in south west Victoria, Australia and is located on the Princes Highway; the township within a bend of Darlot Creek, before it enters the Fitzroy River which also flows through the locality...
.
The river is 54.2 kilometres (33.7 mi) in length and flows in a southeasterly and southerly direction from its source in the Cobboboonee State Forest, through farmland to Heywood, then between the western edge of the Tyrendarra lava flow and the Mount Clay escarpment, and thence across a coastal plain.
Its one main tributary, Darlot Creek, 50.7 kilometres (31.5 mi) in length, flows from near Branxholme
Branxholme, Victoria
Branxholme is a township in the Shire of Southern Grampians in the Western District of Victoria, Australia on the Henty Highway between Heywood and Hamilton...
in a southerly direction through Lake Condah
Gunditjmara
Gunditjmara, or Gundidj for short, are an Indigenous Australian group from western Victoria . Their neighbours to the west were the Buandig people, to the north the Jardwadjali and Djab wurrung peoples, and in the east the Girai wurrung people.The name may also be spelt Gournditch-Mara...
then along the eastern side of the Tyrendarra lava flow before joining the river close to its mouth.
History
The river was named Clark's River in December 1834 by Edward HentyEdward Henty
See also Western District Edward Henty ,was a pioneer and first permanent settler in the Port Phillip district , Australia....
after the first person in his party to sight it near Tyrendarra. In August 1836 Major Mitchell, who, at the time, was unaware of the presence of the Hentys at Portland Bay
Portland Bay
Portland Bay is a small Bay off the coast of Victoria, Australia. It is about 360 km west of Melbourne. The main town on the bay is also named Portland....
named it after FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan
FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan
Field Marshal FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, GCB, PC , known before 1852 as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was a British soldier.-Early life:...
when he crossed it near the site of Heywood.
Darlots (later Darlot) Creek was named after Henry Darlot who rested cattle beside the creek in 1840 and 1841 prior to the establishment of pastoral leases in the area.