The Hotham River is one of the major tributaries of the Murray River

Murray River (Western Australia)

The Murray River is a river in the southwest of Western Australia which played a significant part in the expansion of Aboriginal settlement in the area south of Perth after the arrival of British settlers at the Swan River Colony in 1829....

 in Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. It is about 160km long in total with its upper reaches being the Hotham River North, which begins in the Dutarning Range and joins the Hotham at its crossing of the Great Southern Highway

Great Southern Highway

Great Southern Highway is a highway in the Southern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, starting from Great Eastern Highway at The Lakes, 50 km from Perth, and ending at Albany Highway near Cranbrook. It is the primary thoroughfare for this part of Western Australia and runs parallel with the...

 near Popanyinning

Popanyinning, Western Australia

Popanyinning is a small town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, along Great Southern Highway between Pingelly and Narrogin. At the 2006 census, Popanyinning had a population of 87.-History:...

. A 15km long southern tributary, Hotham River South begins near Cuballing and flows generally northerly before joining the Hotham near Yornaning

Yornaning, Western Australia

Yornaning is a small town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, on Great Southern Highway, between Pingelly and Narrogin.-History:...

.

From Narrogin

Narrogin, Western Australia

Narrogin is a large town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, southeast of Perth on the Great Southern Highway between Pingelly and Wagin...

, the merged river flows in a northerly direction through the Cuballing

Cuballing, Western Australia

Cuballing is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, on Great Southern Highway, between Pingelly and Narrogin. At the 2006 census, Cuballing had a population of 335.-History:...

 district and Dryandra Woodland

Dryandra Woodland

The Dryandra Woodland is a nature conservation area in Western Australia within the Shires of Cuballing, Williams and Wandering, about 164 kilometres south-east of Perth and 22 kilometres north-west of the town of Narrogin...

 before heading west through Wandering

Wandering, Western Australia

Wandering is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately from the state capital, Perth, just off the Albany Highway. It is the main town in the Shire of Wandering...

 and Boddington

Boddington, Western Australia

Boddington is a town and shire in the Peel region of Western Australia, located south-east of Perth. The town sits on the road from Pinjarra to Williams on the Hotham River...

.

The river joins the Williams River

Williams River (Western Australia)

The Williams River is one of the two major tributaries of the Murray River in Western Australia, the other being the Hotham River.It starts between Williams and Narrogin and flows in a general westerly direction before it joins the Hotham River to become the Murray River near Mount Saddleback.The...

 near Mount Saddleback.

History

The river was discovered by Thomas Bannister

Thomas Bannister

Thomas Bannister was a soldier and explorer in Western Australia. He was born in Steyning, Sussex in 1799, and arrived in Western Australia in 1829, age 30, with the rank of Captain aboard the Atwick with 3 servants from London, England...

 in 1830 and probably named by Governor James Stirling

James Stirling (Australian governor)

Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...

 after Admiral Sir Henry Hotham

Henry Hotham

Vice Admiral Sir Henry Hotham KCB was a Royal Navy hero who saw a great deal of service during the Napoleonic Wars.-Naval career:...

.